This summer Daisy has concentrated her blog posts at SunnyRoomStudio on ways to slow down during our year's warmest months. Here are just a few that she listed last week:
Nurture your creative side.
Read some poetry.
Write a letter.
Take a walk.
Create a new recipe.
Read a short story.
Allow yourself time to connect with nature.
Call an old friend.
Sleep in.
Create spiritual space with time for silence.
Couldn't we all participate in those not only during the summer but as a lifetime habit?
I'm pleased to introduce Daisy and her thoughts about books - another way to enjoy the slow summer months.
The Beauty of Books
Words are vehicles for understanding. Like all artistic forms, they offer avenues
of expression that are varied and dynamic.
From poetry to prose, from blogs to novels, words are links between
individuals, family systems, organizations, and countries. I’ve been drawn to them for a lifetime it
seems.
Yet, recently, I heard someone lamenting how you could find
a book to say anything you wanted it to say, that there was no “truth” in
books, per se. Pick out five that boldly
assert one theme, and on the next shelf, you’ll find five more from an opposing
point of view.
Well, of course. I
didn’t say anything, but I sensed the person was missing the point … of books,
of life, of anything really. Because
isn’t that precisely the point of communication and human expression, the
sharing of ideas and experiences that are nearly always diverse, even
contradictory? And wasn’t there an
element of arrogance in the comment (spoken by someone who has never tried to
write a book)?
The glory of books is their ability to share what is
important to the author. To offer
information that may be helpful to others.
To capture something fleeting, yet, powerful. To record human history.
The fact that every book is slightly, or entirely, different
merely reflects the human condition. How
could it be otherwise? Yet, this
individual was apparently looking for something that doesn’t exist; ready to
toss all books aside because a global definition of “truth” can’t be found in
any of them.
Yet, truth, like beauty, is found in the eyes of the
beholder. And, for me, books will always
be something to celebrate and to appreciate.
They represent the human story, our evolution, and clearly, our
spiritual adventures. Books also speak
to our profound connection as mortals on planet earth.
The perception of truth will always be subjective. And in finding peace within that reality, we
come to accept the many layers of truth in the world. The many levels of understanding.
I hope all of you enjoy many good books this summer,
including Madeline’s.
And I hope you don’t get caught up in worrying about why one
book is true, yet, the next one isn’t.
Learn something from each.
Savor the journey. Celebrate the
perceptions of a fellow human being. Let
yourself feel challenged and intrigued by ideas that don’t necessarily mesh
with yours. It doesn’t have to be more
complicated than that. And if you’re
truly seeking “truth,” look within.
- What books are you enjoying this summer?
Thanks, Madeline, for your kind invitation to share a few thoughts on
your blog. Have a lovely summer!
Thank you, Daisy, for being my guest today. I hope lots of folks will slowly, in a summery way, come over here to meet you.
Daisy A. Hickman is the founder of SunnyRoomStudio –
a sunny, creative space for kindred spirits launched in early
2010. Her blog appears there each week. She also hosts
wonderful Studio Guests with inspiring stories (and interests) to share.
Daisy has lived in St. Louis and Indianapolis, but, at this time, is enjoying
life in her home state of South Dakota. Currently, a full-time writer,
Daisy also worked with nonprofit organizations for many years after completing
a master's degree in sociology at Iowa State University.
@dhSunWriter or @dazydaywriter (via twitter) @SunnyRoomStudio
(facebook)
