Why We Read ~ LibbyApp ~ You Are Welcome
Journal Entry from [Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022 ~ 07:21 ~ Moncarapacho, Portugal]
While , after escaping Nicaragua, I was visiting little brother, Luí, in Florida; July 2018, and I said something like, “I was re-reading parts of Dr. Stephen Covey’s “The 3rd Alternative”, and he said ‘when trouble-shooting problems we must first seek to understand, before being understood’ so I’ve been trying to be a better Active listener more without worrying or thinking about my next point or idea.
I try repeating back to the speaker what I believe they’re saying as a means to:
1. Validate and respect their voice,
2. Assure I’ve understood them correctly;
3. Build trust as we further Brainstorm together, before
4. Altering what my initial ideas were and/or
5. Add my initial thoughts to her/his ideas with the possibility of reaching a better solution. Not solely hers. Not solely mine.
A THIRD Alternative that’s better than either thought individually.
This process works even better with a larger pool of diverse voices at the table. However, since reading Covey’s book, I’ve used this approach a great deal these last few years, [originally written 2018, but I continually utilize “Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood” these last few months] when dealing with governmental officials, teachers, board members and conflict resolutions with students.”
“Wow,” Luí responded. “It’s amazing how you do that.”
“Yes, it’s actually one of his original “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, after
1. Be proactive;
2. Begin With the End in Mind, and
3. Keep First Things First, and
4. Think Win-Win.”
“No,” he said, “how you read something and immediately apply it, you use that information for everyday living.”
I was incredulous, “Ummm, yeah…that’s what I’ve always tried to do. That’s why we read; to learn something new, to have better understandings of the world or ourselves; to grow stronger, better more knowledgeable to help ourselves, our community or the world. It’s what I’ve always taught. It’s what I tried teaching you all those years ago. It’s Critical Thinking in practice. Otherwise we simply talk about themes and concepts in the Abstract, the hypothetical, which is great, but there’s no reason discussing these ideas if we aren’t actually using them sometime in our daily lives.”
It was a Re-Teachable Moment 23 years late.
A true “Ah-ha! Moment” for me as an example of failing one of my best friends.
Sorta.
He’d learned these things. He’d used them before. I’ve heard his poetry. Over the decades, we’ve sat for hours with family and friends analyzing a movies, music, books, Art, Comedy Shows hundreds of times. Yet, I believe perhaps we forget or have prior Standard Operating Procedures [SOP] overwritten with all the other stimuli or directives we tend to gobble up because we’re told to or they’re readily available; Office Memos, Microwaveable EVERYTHING and faster everything “developing right before your eyes”. Sometimes we miss the forest ’cause there are too many trees in the way.
While at a Guru Seminar, he’d received T. Harv Eker’s “Secrets of the Millionaire Mind”, which he and Carla were both trying to pitch [expensive seminars]* to me with this introductory “gift” of Eker’s phenomenal book. It is outstanding because, as I read it, I could immediately activate some of his de-programming Mantras and some other valuable lessons before I even finished reading it.
Yet, it was fantastic for even greater reasons; it was one of the first in years where Luí began doing the same; interacting with the text beyond footnotes, annotations and other written feedback. Those were the SOPs of “Close Reading”, but those are only Steps #1 or #2. He would lead discussions referencing facets and cross-referencing them to other books, Documentaries and TedXes and how DOING many of the “Steps” and Mantras had positively changed his outlook, his attitude and even his mental well-being. There was even a great deal of pride and joy SHARING what he’d learned.
That’s why we read.
Those discussions; the Text-to-Text, Self and Global Connections are some of the very basic tenants of my entire teaching career. It’s how we should be looking at every movie, Artwork, Sunset, culinary experience — ALL EXPERIENCES. It’s what makes life worth living.
Even Fiction.
While reading “A Game of Thrones”, “The Hunger Games”, “Narnia” or “Harry Potter”, or any Mystery or Sci-Fi novels, we can learn about political struggles, family dynamics, human behavior, mythical creatures; ie connections to Hawaiian, 1st Nationer, Greek, Norse, African or Aboriginal Mythologies and Tribal Customs, as well as connections to Milton, Shakespeare, Chaucer and other greats, Art – “Starry Night”, Frieda Kahlo, Georgia O’Keeffe, Science; Newton’s Laws of Motion and The Conservation of Energy Laws, Madam Currie, Madam C.J. Walker, Amelia Earhart, and the Anatomy of EVERYTHING in between.
Do yourself EPIC – dive into a good book today and apply whatever Take-Aways strike you the most. Experiment. Take chances. Learn more about your favorite topics and study more about the forces around us that we all must understand in order to create informed decisions, grow a better tomorrow for an even stronger more productive society.
I am actively switching to a career of Filmmaking and Directing. Books, Tutorials, and even many of the Film Festivals (Portugal) have FREE or drastically reduced showings where I’ve gleaned tons from professionals who have recently dealt with filming during Da Ronas Lockdowns, drastic shortages of resources and yet and still they’ve managed to produce high-quality content in unique and memorable ways.
*I don’t advocate any Guru, “System” or “Program” charging $1,000s for ideas that have been widely known for centuries and/or can be accessed for free with a valid Library card or subscription to Libby App or several others offering free access to books, videos and even workshops and specialized tutorials. While I’ve bought and gifted dozens Covey Family books, I don’t spend money on anyone predicting wealth or health especially when I can re-watch the Ted-X or download the YT videos, to watch as often as I may need.
Thank you for hangin’ with me for a little this morning ~ Do Epic Shiiiiit
Shawn L. Carson ~ edited August 12, 2024 ~ Makawao, Hawai’i ~ 09:12
“Literature is my Utopia. Here I am not disenfranchised. No barrier of the senses shuts me out from the sweet, gracious discourses of my book friends.“
Helen Keller
Mahalos for your support ~
Shawn L. Carson ~ Do Epic Shiiiiit
Do Epic Shit 