Thursday, September 8, 2011

doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah

Everyday living requires courage if life is to be effective and bring happiness.

Maxwell Maltz
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I once said to a friend that I don't read books, I eat them. I can't remember the last time I read a book all the way through once that didn't deserve to be read even once. The books I read and love continue to provide me with layers of fascination. wonder and entertainment every time I go back to them.

In these days of Google, Wikipedia, Kindle and email will books ever die. I don't think so. A book is a beautiful thing, it looks great sitting on a shelf or the coffee table and feels very nice to hold in one's hand. But it doesn't mean a thing until you open it.

It takes courage to open a book, especially one you don't know. To open a book takes you into a foreign land, where there are people, events and ideas you may be discovering for the first time. What dangers, discoveries and challenges await you when you open a book and start to read? What is it about a book that it can fill your thoughts, occupy your mind and even change it?

I think it's the same with life. You wake up feeling okay, look at yourself in the mirror, brush your teeth, clean yourself up, get dressed, make yourself a cup of coffee and then what. Will it be an adventure or the same old hum drumity? Will you clean up the mess you made yesterday or will you leave it there? Will you deal with the problems looking you in the face or will you avoid them? Will you stick to your daily routine or will you try something new? Will you seek out the dangers lurking in the corners and face them down or will you hide? Will you be satisfied with your life the way it is or find ways to make it happier?

Life is the great experience that most of the time we take for granted. Life deserves to be lived to it's fullest and most joyous level of wonder, fascination and joy. It deserves to be taken by the covers and opened up. Otherwise what is life about? Or as Duke Ellington put it:

"It makes no difference
If it's sweet or hot
Just give that rhythm
Everything you've got
It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing."
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DB - of the true Vagabond Journeys
Never give up.
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SUMMER QUESTION

The end of Summer is fast approaching, people.

It's a long, hot, sticky summer, so here's a hot, sticky question for you.

Same sex marriage. Should it be legal or not? If so, why? If not, why not?

dbdacoba@aol.com

21 interesting answers so far.

You have until the last day of summer, but don't dally.
I eagerly await your answer.

DB
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1 comment:

Jon said...

Reading has always been my greatest source of pleasure and most of my knowledge has come from books. I have a book addiction.....