I Cannot Read Properly

A little thing happened that I was told not to take personal but too late, I did and here we go.....




That is right folks; I have discovered that I do not know how to read properly. Actually, I will tell you why also. I, unfortunately, was sent a list of classic books that people should have read while alive. I know this was a made up list by someone who was just giving their opinion. However, I looked at this list and realized I was not read the proper books and that was the opinion of not one person but many. I had read three of the hundred that were listed. Now I will admit that I go through spurts on how much I read. I have read three great books in the last month and sometimes life takes hold and I do not get the time. Now I will attempt to read almost anything put in front of me. I like to learn and books do that for me. They also do something else. In a world and life where tons of everything can get to you, taking a break by putting on a CD and reading a book is a great escape. I turn off my phone and no one is allowed to contact me. That is just the way I am.



Now that I have explained this, I will explain my issue. Who has the right to tell me what I should escape too. In high school I had to the read “To Kill a Mockingbird” and hated it. It was not until later in life that I picked it up and read it again that I enjoyed it. Then my mind starts thinking like this. Does this mean the fine folks that do not enjoy reading what I read are not enjoying themselves when they pick up a romance novel, news paper, magazine or comic book? I know a lot of people like this and if it what makes them happy then why not. Who are we to say because what people read are not the “classics” then they are not worth it. If the end means is escape and it makes you happy, why not?



This may be a better example. I wrote poetry and working on a few other writing projects that will see the light of day soon. I have been told by family members that they do not enjoy them. However, they do enjoy this type of book and article. Good for them. Not everything written in for everyone and I understand that. Why others cannot I do not know.



I say this as I am sitting at my favourite coffee shop / bookstore looking at a book that I will be purchasing this week sometime after I am done reading the book I am reading. By the way, I am reading Thomas Harris – “Black Sunday” and the book I am looking at is has actually two stories in it. It is called “The Tale of Two Cities” and “Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens. I hear that these are classics but I will not be reading them because of that. I will be reading them because I want to.



Now that I have finished my rant about that, I have more. So here we go.....



I have had the pleasure of meeting a lot of people in my time. All of them have something they do as a hobby or fun. They like to challenge themselves and I think it is great and fully support them for it. It cleanses their souls we will say.



Some of these fine folks will actually put their work out for everyone to see. That takes gut and here is why I say this. A piece of that person is being revealed that has never been revealed before. I applaud you and your courage to do this. I will even go as far as saying that I may not even like it but I will encourage you to put it out there. So in saying this I have a message for those who criticize it. Back off!!! Just because you do not like, understand and you would not have done it that way, does not mean you have the right to say what is good or not. It is not a career, people are just sharing and it makes them happy. So why not encourage that.



I often wonder how much talent is hidden because of people who do not get it and decide to say negative things. Sad really.

Remembering Potential

I have never made it a secret that I like all kinds of music. To walk into a CD store and buy something new can be fun. One of these trips over this Christmas made me start thinking about how we look at human potential. I know what you are thinking. How could a simple walk into a CD store get that thought brewing? Well, walk with me and find out.

Since this occurred over Christmas, I picked up a specially package Jeff Buckley collection. Actually it was a studio and live CD. For those you do not know Jeff Buckley passed away after his first and only CD made in a studio. I was looking at this CD and then started thinking about how many times an artist has passed on and we hear how the person was never going to be given the opportunity to reach their potential. Let us think about that for a second. What if what the person gave us was all they were suppose to give us?

Most of the artists that have passed along during the years, early in their careers may have hit their peak when we discovered them. The list goes on and on; Jimi Hendrix, Gram Parsons, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain and Jeff Buckley. What if their creations that were given to us as time went on were not anywhere close to what they already had? This has happened to many people that we listen to every day. That list would include Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Bon Jovi and Pearl Jam to list a few. So really we do not know what may or may not have happened if artists that have left us would have been the genius they portrayed themselves to be.

Now, let us take this one step further. Losses in each person’s life happen every day. Naturally, we mourn those people who have left us and do this for years. Deep down we are celebrating what each person has given to us such as memories and impact. Do we ever say that they did not reach their potential? We hold on to everything that one person gave us and thank them. The memories we have for those that are close to we are unselfish and we appreciate all of it. These people are the ones we know and love.

This is something to think about. As well as this, why do we celebrate and cherish our loved ones but want more from people we do not know and the only effect they had on us were some songs? Especially, when we know that they have families that have to feel what they have lost.