How Often Do You Read?
ByDo you watch the changes from Winter to Spring? Does the Spring season remind you of baseball and of getting outside to enjoy nature? Does it remind you of new beginnings? Does it remind you of Spring cleaning? How about letting it remind you of new, Lifelong Learning skills for your future success and happiness?
Once I spoke about communication and Self-Esteem to an automotive die casting company in Detroit, Michigan. Many of their employees attended this all day seminar to help them build better communication skills. At the end of the day, two young men approached me. One said, “I divorced my wife because she was learning more about herself by reading, playing cassette tapes, and attending seminars. What a mistake I made. I now know that she was personally growing. If only I had been more curious.” The second young man said, “I cannot read. All my life I have been filled with tension because I never learned to read.” “As of today,” he said, “I will learn to read.”
These are just two examples of the kinds of behavior I hear from people I meet every day. Research shows that approximately 80 million people, in the United States, are illiterate or have poor reading skills. They did not learn to read in school so now they settle for less in their relationships and career. Can you appreciate how difficult it would be to just get around a city if you could not read street signs? How can a person fill out a job application without reading? What impact does illiteracy have on parents when their children begin to read and ask for help?
Few people realize the damaging effects illiteracy has on their Self-Esteem. People who cannot read, often feel “less then.” They are often treated with less dignity and respect. People who are illiterate may want to learn how to read, however, they are often afraid to admit their ignorance. Reading allows people to expand their awareness and learn the knowledge necessary to obtain any skill desired.
Do you like to read? Do you read a book a week or a book a month? Is reading a part of your daily menu? Are you interested in developing your personal and professional skills? Is it possible that reading can serve you and others in acquiring these skills? Do you give books as gifts? Do you recommend books to others? Have you acquired your own library? Is there a library card in your wallet? Have you introduced children to the library? Do you read to children? Do you encourage children to read?
Now is the time to give yourself a Spring reading skills checkup and then, watch what happens!
