I am a fiend for books. I used to read only fiction. As I've aged, I have tried adding a wider variety of books and topics to my reading list. Yesterday, I picked up a gem from the library--a shout out to the GREAT staff at the Savage Branch of the Howard County Library System in Savage, MD, especially Patricia, Sharon, and Carolyn--and started reading it last night.
How to be Like Women of Influence: Life Lessons from 20 of the Greatest by Pat and Ruth Williams with Michael Mink.
In the opening chapter of the book I read a quote that really spoke to me.
"But I say to the young: 'Do not stop thinking of life as an adventure. You have no security unless you can live bravely, excitingly, imaginatively'" -- Eleanor Roosevelt
A couple days ago I blogged about the responsibility of authors and the media to offer a balance of materials for the younger generation to choose from, not such sex, drugs, and violence. I have been thinking about this. I made it seem like it was all up to us to give them what they need. I still believe we should give them what they need, but I think it is important for the young ones, and everyone, to allow themselves to make the hard choices on their own.
This goes back to the parents to some degree, but in today's society, we teach and allow such independence that it is up to the youth to make the right choices.
Don't be afraid to look back on your roots. Know where you came from. Take time to discover what in your ancestry might have led you and your family to this moment in time. Are you where you want to be? This isn't just for the youngsters. I have been dabbling in my genealogy and while not everything is squeaky clean--OY!--there is a lot to be proud of from my ancestors and those things have played a key role in where and who I am.
Culture, religion, etc. It all plays a part. How does all this gibberish roll together to have anything to do with books and authors, and television, and roots?
We are who we are because of what we see, hear, smell, touch, taste, and do. The choices we make determine where our life will go in the next second. Many of our choices determine where others will go in their lives. Don't be afraid to make choices that might not be popular. Don't be afraid to follow your heart into any adventure. As authors, publishers, producers, actors, etc. we play such an important role in what society has to choose from, isn't it in our best interest to make it worthwhile and valuable to those who put so much stock into it?
We are all interdependent on one another, we don't simply make choices for ourselves; we make choices that in many ways affect the entire existence of our society. But hey, no pressure.
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