Category: Interesting Stuff

 

Today, and in the next couple of monthly blogs I’ll be writing about the subject of addictions, and how to accept and overcome them!

I’m going to focus on the 7th chapter of the book The Deepest Acceptance [Radical Awakening in Ordinary Life] by a guy named Jeff Foster.

But first, what is addiction? The Metaphysical meaning of addiction is: “A diseased condition brought about by one who, thirsting for the true stimulation of Spirit, resorts to the excessive use of false stimulants, such as alcoholic beverages. The way to demonstrate over this condition is to turn wholeheartedly to Spirit and to realize and to affirm that the desire for false stimulants is dissolved and dissipated and that the pure spiritual life of Christ satisfies and uplifts.”

The dictionary defines addiction as: “A compulsive, chronic, physiological or psychological need for a habit-forming substance, behavior, or activity having harmful physical, psychological, or social effects and typically causing well-defined symptoms (such as anxiety, irritability, tremors, or nausea) upon withdrawal or abstinence: a strong inclination to do, use, or indulge in something; a dependence or habit.

Here’s a little story about habits – bad habits.

A Catholic priest, a Baptist pastor, a Unity minister, and an Anglican rector were attending an ecumenical conference. After the meetings were done and having finished eating their supper, they were relaxing in the hotel restaurant, talking.

The Unity Minister said, “You know, it’s great to get to know one another’s theology across sectarian boundaries like this. But I think it would be even better if we shared some of our human side. Don’t any of you have any bad habits or addictions? You know, confession is good for the soul, and we’d surely build mutual tolerance, knowing what faults we all share. How about it?”

The Catholic Priest said, “I’d have to say that that’s a fine idea. I’ve been carrying a burden for a long time, and I’d be glad to finally get it off my heart. You see, friends, I’m an alcoholic. I’ve got a flask of communion wine in every jacket and gown I have. I can’t tell you the number of baptisms, weddings, funerals, counseling sessions and masses that I’ve skipped because I was absolutely plastered!”

The Anglican Rector nodded gravely and said, “Well, that can’t be worse than me. I’m a terrible adulterer. I’m completely out of control! If a woman in my parish can fog a mirror, I’ll come on to her. I’ve got the back door keys to half the homes in my congregation, and my office couch folds out into a bed.”

The Baptist Pastor heaved a sigh, and said, “I’m afraid I’ve got that beat. I’m a terrible embezzler. I’m no good with money; and I’ve got a taste for high living that my salary can’t satisfy. Each church I’ve served at could have paid down their mortgage like you wouldn’t believe, if not for me and my spendthrift ways. What a hypocrite I’ve been, brow-beating my hard-working parishioners to pledge more each year, while I spent their gifts hand over fist!”

The Unity Minister steepled her fingers and bowed her head. She said nothing. Presently one of the others said, “Well? Don’t you have any skeletons to share?”

The Minister shrugged and looked up. “Well, I think you should know” she said, “I have a serious gossip addiction.”

Now, we human beings seem to be able to become addicted to pretty much anything. We become addicted to recreational drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, gambling or gaming as it’s called now, painkillers, sex, shopping, the Internet, computer and video games, sugar, TV, extreme and dangerous sports, binge eating, porn, chocolate, relationships, Facebook or Twitter.

We even get addicted to spirituality, with nonstop reading of spiritual books or following gurus, attending endless retreats or spending weeks at ashrams. How about addiction to work, gossip, status, prestige, duty or security, power, fame. They even have a term for connectivity or social media addiction. They call it FOMO – fear of missing out.

 

Stay tuned for next month’s blog about ADDICTIONS.

 

NAMASTE and SAWUBONA. Keep manifesting only good things 🙂

Tony

 

If interested in getting a free copy of my mini e-book –  click here.

 

Today I’m continuing my blog about curiosity. In this final part I’m once again writing about how curiosity leads to wonder, and then how it often creates happiness and joy.

You have likely heard the story about John Lennon of the Beatles, who as a little boy, when asked by his teacher what he wanted to be when he grew up, answered “happy”. When the teacher told him that he didn’t understand the assignment, he explained that she did not understand life. You see, John’s mother always told him that happiness was the key to life.

Now, do happiness and joy mean the same thing? Many of us use those terms almost interchangeably.

Psychologies Magazine says:

“Joy and happiness are wonderful feelings to experience, but are very different. Joy is more consistent and is cultivated internally. It comes when you make peace with who you are, why you are and how you are, whereas happiness tends to be externally triggered and is based on other people, things, places, thoughts and events. Aiming for joy is more beneficial, as it is less transitory than happiness and is not tied to external circumstances.”

Rev. Dr. Christopher Benek tell us more about that:

“Joy is caused by elation at a moment in time. Joy may not always be about oneself but be about others’ contentment also. Happiness is about the self’s pleasure. Happiness may dwell on materialistic, worldly pleasure while joy is derived from soul satisfying, emotional wellbeing. We feel joy when we are spiritually connected to God.”

So, what does that have to do with curiosity?

Dr. Todd Kashdan is a professor of psychology at George Mason University. In Experience Life magazine he wrote:

“One of the most reliable and overlooked keys to happiness is cultivating and exercising our innate sense of curiosity. That’s because curiosity — a state of active interest or genuinely wanting to know more about something — creates an openness to unfamiliar experiences, laying the groundwork for greater opportunities to experience discovery, joy and delight.

Curiosity is something that can be nurtured and developed. With practice, we can harness the power of curiosity to transform everyday tasks into interesting and enjoyable experiences. We can also use curiosity to intentionally create wonder, intrigue and play, out of almost any situation or interaction we encounter.

Curiosity, at its core, is all about noticing and being drawn to things we find interesting. It’s about recognizing and seizing the pleasures that novel experiences offer us, and finding novelty and meaning even in experiences that are familiar.

Research suggests that experiencing novelty is an important factor in both health and happiness. Opportunities for novelty exist virtually everywhere, but to discover and make the most of them, we need to develop our “curiosity muscle” through more regular and intense use.”

So, would you like be a “Curious Explorer” with me this week? Exploring how to develop your curiosity muscle? Here’s what Dr. Kashdan recommends that we do:

1. Try to notice little details of your daily routine that you never really noticed before.
2. When talking to people, try to remain open to whatever transpires without judgement.
3. Let novelty unfold and resist the temptation to control the flow.
4. Gently allow your attention to be guided by your 5 basic physical senses. Be attentive to the smell, taste, feel, look, and sound of whatever comes your way.

Let’s take a look at what Woman’s Day magazine says-

“Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it turns out it’s great for humans. Recent studies have linked it with a range of benefits, including creativity, healthy work habits and life satisfaction. “Exploratory curiosity” was one of the character strengths that predicts positive mood and self-esteem, and curiosity was connected to a greater sense of hope and life purpose:

Curiosity is a link to a more joyful life, explains Associate Professor Dr Maria Kangas. “…be present in the moment”. She says. “Stop, look around, remove all distractions and just…see. You’ll be amazed how quickly the things you thought you knew all too well suddenly begin to seem strange and wonderful and new.”

So, starting right now, let’s make sure that we cultivate the gift of curiosity; that we look at life with a sense of wonder; that we live in a constant state of blissful joy. Let’s be like little children, frolicking in the kingdom of heaven. Or like a curious cat who tell us that: The joy of living wells up within us… as we touch the divine in thought and feeling.

NAMASTE and SAWUBONA. Keep manifesting only good things 
Tony

If interested in getting a free copy of my mini e-book  click here

 

Today I’m continuing my blog about curiosity, about how it leads to wonder, and then how it often creates happiness and joy.

Remember when you were a kid, in your innocence and naivety, looking at life with a sense of wonder.

I guess that I was about 4 when I decided to satisfy my curiosity about what would happen if I stuck a pair scissors into an electrical outlet. Talk about shock therapy. Was there wonder? More surprise than wonder actually. Any Joy?  – No way José. And my mother knew what had happened. She saw the black and melted end of the scissors blade that I had inserted.

A couple of year later when I was about 6, on my way to St. Peter and Paul Catholic School after lunch one day, I decided to find out what was inside of Olivet United Church that I passed on the way to and from school every day. As I crept up the centre isle I heard a voice – “can I help you young man?”. It was the Minister, but I thought it was the devil himself speaking to me, and I raced out of the building as quickly as I could. Instead of wonder and joy it was absolute terror that I experienced. By the way, I didn’t step into another Protestant Church again until I met my future wife, and we were married in, of all places, Central United Church in Welland Ontario.

Then, when I was about 8, I think, I was very curious about how my father’s watch worked. I managed to pry off the back and remove the inner workings. It was wonderful. When I put everything back together there were a couple of small pieces left over. No big deal I thought. Well, my dad knew it was me who had worked on his watch, after he took it into a repair shop and was told why it had stopped ticking.  And there was little joy in the spanking that I received.

At age 10, on my uncle’s farm, my older cousin Betty and I decided to go for a walk in the woods and check out the neighbor’s property. We came upon a clearing – full of wildflowers and a little stream gurgling over some rocks. We called it wonderland. It was amazing. It was truly joyful!

Then 6 years ago, on a beautiful sunny Mother’s Day, my wife and I rode my motorcycle out of London where we were living, to Port Stanley, on Lake Erie. After lunch at a local beach bar, I suggested we check out the blue townhouse condos up on the bluff. Just out of curiosity. To see if there was anything for sale. Well, wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles, there was an end unit available, on the lakeside, next to the pool. A few weeks later, it was our retirement haven. Every morning since then I have joyfully looked out at that lake and silently thanked the Universe.

So no, while it does not always happen that curiosity is followed by wonder and in turn, by joy: It very often is.

Joy is defined as a feeling of great pleasure. The emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying.

Metaphysically speaking the meaning of joy is:

The happiness of God expressed through His perfect idea—man [and woman if I may add]. Joy and gladness are strength-giving, especially if the mind is fixed on the things of Spirit.

In the Teachings of Abraham we are told that

“The greatest gift you can ever give another person is your own happiness. You are joy, looking for a way to express. It’s not just that your purpose is joy, it is that you are joy. You are love and joy and freedom and clarity expressing.”

I have a special morning routine that I follow pretty well every day. One of the steps is restating my life purpose. Want to know what it is?

Her are the first few lines:

“IT IS MY MISSION AND LIFE PURPOSE:

This time ‘round

To have fun and to be happy

To experience joy and savor the succulent sweetness of life,

To row my boat gently down the stream

To float in the direction of my dreams

To drift with the current of the Divine”

And so on.

What’s your purpose may I ask? Happiness and Joy, I hope.

 

Stay tuned for next month’s blog about CURIOSITY.

NAMASTE and SAWUBONA. Keep manifesting only good things 
Tony

If interested in getting a free copy of my mini e-book  click here

 

Today, and in the next couple of monthly blogs I’ll be writing about the subject of curiosity. About how curiosity leads to wonder, and how it then often creates happiness and joy in our lives.

The dictionary definition of Curiosity is: a strong desire to know or learn something.

Michael Jamison, writing for Unity.org notes that “Curiosity killed the cat, and then adds…but satisfaction brought it back!!” He then says:

“As this early 20th-century saying implies, an enlivening satisfaction can be had by satisfying curiosity. The abbreviated warning “Curiosity killed the cat” probably never stifled curiosity, because the truth is that curiosity motivated the cat just as curiosity motivates people, What holds some people back from satisfying their curiosity is a fear of the unknown. Yet curiosity has empowered explorers of every kind.”

Spirituality for Dummies tells us that:

“Curiosity is the basis of all true learning, so it makes sense that you need it for mindfulness, for your meditation practice. Einstein was a master of curiosity. He thought curiosity is an essential part of a fulfilling life. Einstein is quoted as saying: ‘The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy curiosity.’

Through Curiosity, we have the opportunity to discover new things about mundane, everyday experiences that we might normally take for granted.”

James Dillet Freeman, in his book, The Household of Faith writes:

“Charles Fillmore, co-founder of Unity was born with a curious and capable mind that was intended to inquire into Truth and into the nature of many things. His was a mind on fire to know the Truth, and he sought for it everywhere. In many ways he was like a little boy in his excitement, curiosity, and wonderment.”

Now a sense of wonder or wonderment is a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.

Let’s see what Unity’s Daily Word says about wonder.

“Life is a wonder to behold. Matthew, chapter 18 verse 3, tells us we will never enter the kingdom of heaven unless we become like little children, cautioning those who have lost their sense of wonder to embrace it once again. Children see all things through new eyes. Free from pretense, they share their love openly and enthusiastically, innately understanding that the gift of being alive is a miracle to be cherished.

When I choose to see life through that lens, the kingdom of heaven is where I live, and everything changes. My relationships take on new vibrancy. From the smallest grain of sand to the most majestic mountain, the world is made of innumerable miracles. Each day, I take time to see life through the wonder of a child.”

By the way, it’s not only in the Gospel of Matthew that we read that the child is a symbol of eager interest, and great curiosity – characteristics which we all need to emulate in order to experience what has been called “the kingdom”. It’s also what Jesus of Nazareth apparently said according to the Gospels by Luke and Mark as well.  “Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein”.

Let’s read some more from The Household of Faith:

“In the spring of 1886, Charles Fillmore and his wife Myrtle went to a lecture in Kansas City put on by Doctor E. B. Weeks. It was out of curiosity and need that they went. Doctor Weeks had been sent from Chicago as a representative of the Illinois Metaphysical College to deliver a series of talks on a subject that was then being referred to by such names as “New Thought,” and “Christian or Divine Science,”. Charles came away from that lecture feeling no different than when he had gone in, but the woman who walked out of the hall on his arm was not the same woman who had entered it. A new, a different, a liberating, a transforming conviction was blazing in her heart and mind.”

You see, Myrtle was filled with joy and wonder, and it was the first step in her journey of healing. Thank goodness for curiosity. And the resulting wonder and joy.

 

Stay tuned for next month’s blog about CURIOSITY.

NAMASTE and SAWUBONA. Keep manifesting only good things 🙂
Tony

If interested in getting a free copy of my mini e-book  click here

 

This month’s blog is a continuation of the one from last month. It’s about the book “You are a Badass” by Jen Sincero

I was once referred to as a badass by a co-worker. Actually, what he really said was that I was a “pain in the ass”. Now to some degree I have always been a bit of a troublemaker, rebel, and black sheep of the family. When I asked my brother if I was a badass, he said no – you are an “asshole”, and an oddball. My daughters admitted that I used to be a bit of a badass, but now I’m just an “old ass”. 

I always thought of myself as somewhat of a badass – I ride a motorcycle, have a tattoo [albeit a very small and conservative one] and I wear an earring [also very small and conservative – a gift from my wife]. Always wanted to be a rock star, and I play a wicked air guitar. I’ve also stepped away from both the culture and religion in which I was raised. I’ve released a lot of preconceived notions and self-sabotaging limiting beliefs, ingrained biases and prejudices, emotional blocks, bad habits and false paradigms.

You have as well- RIGHT?  Or you wouldn’t be reading this! You have, to a large degree, stopped doubting your greatness and started living an awesome life, just like Jen says in the title of her book.

So, what prompted Jen to write “You are a Badass” and how did she “find” herself?

She first tells us that what little she knew about the self-help/spiritual world she found to be unforgivably cheesy: it reeked of desperation, rah-rah churchiness and unwanted hugs from unappealing strangers.

Her journey was a process [and it still is, she says] that started with her decision to make some serious changes in her life, regardless of what she had to do to make them. None of the things she’d already tried were working. So, she went all out, and learned some of the basic concepts that totally changed her life. Her learnings from a life of struggle and indecision helped her to find her way and to then teach others to do the same.

Sincero starts the book out by saying that she is going to ask us to do some “out-there things” when we read it, and that we have to stay open. Well, those things aren’t nearly as far out as she thinks they are – at least not for those of you reading this.

Want to know more? Then go to my videotaped message on the final phase of “Are You a Badass?”. CLICK HERE. Done in 2022 on Zoom.

Keep manifesting only good things 🙂 
Tony

If interested in getting a free copy of my mini e-book and subscribing to my e-mailing list click here

 

Now, be honest. Did or does the term badass make you feel the least bit uncomfortable? Maybe you’re feeling somewhat judgmental. Are you? The term badass is sometimes considered vulgar, and some may take offence at its usage in conversation, especially when in public or in polite company.

 

What’s the dictionary definition of the word? No -it’s not an incorrigible donkey. It’s slang term, and it’s also 2-fold- It can either have a negative connotation: Badass- A belligerent, troublesome or mean person; a person with an unpleasantly extreme appearance, attitudes, or behavior.

Or a positive connotation: Badass- Someone having an extreme appearance, attitude, or behavior that is considered admirable. A person who is thought of as impressive due to courage, skill, and/or toughness. Awesome, cool, wicked.

 So, are you a badass? In the best sense of the word?

I based this and next month’s blog on the book “You are a BADASS” – “How to stop doubting your greatness and start living an awesome life” by Jen Sincero. Jen is a 57-year-old #1 New York Times bestselling author, success coach and motivational cattle prod who’s helped countless people transform their personal and professional lives through her products, speaking engagements, newsletters, seminars and books. She’s also a former rock singer. Her book, “You Are a Badass®, initially published in 2013, has sold over three million copies, is available in over 35 languages, continues to grow in popularity around the globe and has been on the New York Times bestseller list for over 4 years and counting.

Let’s look at The N.Y. Times’ review of the book. “In this refreshingly entertaining how-to guide, author and world-traveling success coach, Jen Sincero, serves up 27 bite-sized chapters full of hilariously inspiring stories, sage advice, easy exercises, and the occasional swear word. If you’re ready to make some serious changes around here, You Are a Badass will:

• help you Identify and change the self-sabotaging beliefs and behaviors that stop you from getting what you want,
• help you blast past your fears so you can take big, exciting risks,
• help you figure out how to make some damn money already,
• help you learn to love yourself and others, set big goals and reach them

It will basically show you how to create a life you totally love, and how to create it NOW.”

 As Indigo says in its overview of the book – “By the end of You Are a Badass, you’ll understand why you are how you are, how to love what you can’t change, how to change what you don’t love, and how to use The Force to kick some serious ass.”

 Now, sometimes a book, video, quote or song comes into your life just when you need it or when it will do you or someone you care about some good. Well, this one did. For me anyway. It’s funny, it’s irreverent, it’s inspirational, and it talks about stuff you and I need to know, if we don’t already.

What is that stuff? Check out next month’s blog as we talk further about “Are You a Badass?”

Keep manifesting only good things 🙂 
Tony

If interested in getting a free copy of my mini e-book and subscribing to my e-mailing list click here

 

What is it that you really want for your children?
And for all of the children of the world.

I was recently re-reading a book called What Do You Want For Your Children.
It’s a classic by the late great Wayne Dyer,
One of my top spiritual mentors.
The last time I read it was in my 30’s and I lost it,
Along with all the other books and tapes of Wayne‘s that I had,
My Kurt Vonnegut Junior book collection,
My library of books, musical tapes and albums and various other important items
In a house fire, late on a cold January night.

Anyway, a while ago, I purchased 4 used copies of the book from Amazon
[they should pay me for promoting them so often 🙂 ]
One each for my two daughters
And a third for my brother to share with his three children, all of whom have children of their own.
The fourth one I planned to read and keep for myself.

The one great truth that I’ve gotten out of it?
That to be a good parent or, in my case, grandparent
I need to be a good example
I need to set a good example of being a self-actualized human being!
And to do so I need to work on myself
And become a better member of the human race.
I need to remember that I am one in spirit with all other beings on this planet.
That we are not separate and that we are all connected.
That I am one with everyone and everything in the universe

And what I want most for the children of the world is happiness!
Unbridled joy.
Limitless mirth
And total peace love, wonder and absolute delight.
So – Teach Your Children Well

By The Way: Have you recently listened to the song Teach Your Children by CSNY [Crosby, Stills Nash & Young] ?
Check out the live version out HERE. 
And the Official Music Video HERE. 

Watch them both and keep manifesting only good things  
Tony

If interested in getting a free copy of my mini e-book  click here

 

Yes, you are an artist!

As Don Miguel Ruiz Jr. [2021 New Thought Walden Award honouree and author of The Mastery of Self and 4 other spiritual books] says:

“…I am an artist, and the canvas for my work of art is my life.

The instruments I’m going to use to create that work of art are my body, my mind, my intent, and my will.

I can create the most perfect nightmare or the most harmonious dream – and to be honest, it usually fluctuates between the two.

I am the artist of my life because only I get to perceive life from my own unique point of view.

That is the same for all of us.”

Yes, you and me!

So, here is a prayer for you

It is adapted from Julia Cameron’s An Artist’s Prayer.

Hope you like it and apply it to your daily living

Oh, great Spirit.

I want to be of greater service to you and to my fellow humans.

I offer myself to you as an instrument.

I open myself to your creativity in my life.

I surrender to you my old ideas and I welcome your new and more expansive ideas.

I trust that you will lead me, and I trust that it is safe to follow you.

I know that you created me, and that creativity is your nature, as it is mine.

I ask you to unfold my life according to your plan, not my low self-worth.

Help me to believe that it is not too late to be healed.

That I am not too small or too flawed to be made whole by you and through others.

Help me to love others, to nurture their unfolding, to encourage their growth,

and to understand their fears.

Help me to know that I am not alone and that I am loved and lovable.

Help me to create a life of love, joy, wonder and absolute delight.

You create every day.

Creativity is your nature.

Your life is a work of art.

Keep manifesting only good things  
Tony 

To get on my special e-mail list, click here.

Also, don’t forget to check out the AbundanceTogether Facebook page for your daily inspiration here.

 

Discovering the Source amidst the Holocaust

I just recently finished reading an amazing book by Immaculee Ilibagiza called “Left to Tell”

It was strongly endorsed and promoted by the late, great, spiritual teacher Dr. Wayne Dyer and is published by Hay House Press. That’s my overall favourite publishing house for the type of books I tend to enjoy reading the most.

Now, Immaculee’s story is “Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust” and is a wonderful message of joy, forgiveness, inspiration, and positive thinking. Please don’t let the name “God” turn you off like it does for so many people. Feel free to replace it with the word of your choice: Source, Higher Power, Divine Spirit, Love, Life or the like.

Anyway, I heard about this book years ago and watched a Wayne Dyer special featuring Immaculee as a guest speaker, but I hesitated buying and reading the book because of that specific word “God” in the subtitle, as well as what I thought was going to be the book’s emphasis – religious dogma and rituals. I’m glad that I finally got around to reading it and I highly recommend it.

Here’s just a few of my observations about the book. You may or may not agree with them. It’s OK either way.

Immaculee lost most of her family during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. That genocide by Rwandan Hutus against ethnic Tutsis resulted in some 1 million dead and many others raped and/or disfigured – physically and emotionally. Immaculee was 24 years old at the time and survived the horrific and brutal slaughter by hiding in a Hutu Minister’s small washroom with seven other starving females – women and children. For 91 cramped and terrifying days.

She describes in significant detail the atrocities committed by the cruel and vicious machete wielding perpetrators, and then explains how she forgave those very same people.

I admit I had some difficulty with how Immaculee ascribed the good things that happened in her life to an external God, since my faith is in the Source within, not out there somewhere. Much of what she recounted about her beliefs reminded me of my past as a Roman Catholic youth. She maintained that God and “Jesus” had a distinct impact upon her survival. She took comfort in miracles, and made use of symbols of religious devotion such as rosaries and scapulars. Not for me thanks.

I was, however, very impressed with how she used positive thinking, affirmations, meditation and prayer. How she took specific action to achieve all the wonderful things that she was able to accomplish, during and after her experience.

She not only survived, but she thrived. She was injured, she healed, she forgave, and she had a spiritual transformation.

Her amazing faith and connection to the Source carried her through her ordeal. And I wish that for both you and myself!

Keep manifesting only good things  
Tony

If interested in getting a free copy of my mini e-book and subscribing to my e-mailing list click here

 

Do you like reading books? I do.

“I have lived 2000 lives and I have loved 1000 loves. I’ve walked on distant worlds and seen the end of time. Because I read.” George RR Martin.

I recently finished  Wayne Dyer‘s I Can See Clearly Now. In it he said that approximately 10% of the American population buys 95% of all the published books, and that 90% of the adult population never buys a book at all. [Maybe they get their books at a library instead?]. I was really surprised at that statistic.

So, where do you stand? Are you one of the 10%? Well I am. I LOVE books. I have bookshelves full of them, to my wife’s mild displeasure.

Are you one of the 73% of people who has actually read a book recently? In a major study, roughly a quarter of U.S. adults (27%) said they hadn’t read a single book in the past year. Wow.

If you are a member of the AbundanceTogether community and regularly read my daily e-mails, you will have noticed that I frequently recommend books, reports or articles for you to read. And I hope you have done so, because as Dr. Seuss says “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

I would rather read the book, than watch the movie. When reading, my imagination can run amok. Have you ever been disappointed by the movie interpretation of a book? I have. I was just thinking about one of my favourite books, the 1989 novel – A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. The movie, Simon Birch, a 1998 American comedy-drama film loosely based on the book, was a major letdown for me. Often, I find that the plot lines are not the same or the characters in the movie or the TV show don’t look like or sound like at all like the ones that I have imagined in my mind as I was reading.

I suppose that in some way my reading is an escape from reality. Not that I don’t love my current reality, but I can visit places, do things, meet people, time travel and enjoy amazing experiences in a way that I couldn’t otherwise do.

How many books did you read last year? I read a bit every morning and every few days I will do a marathon read for the whole day. I kept track of the number of books that I actually read in 2020 and it was: 90. Can you believe it? Of those, only fifteen were e-books and 53 of the 90 were strictly for pleasure, mainly novels, historical fiction, some “who done its” and a few science fiction and horror books. [Stephen King is one of my favourite authors, and he once said, “Books are uniquely portable magic”]. The remainder were metaphysical, spiritual, inspirational, and personal development writings. Some of them I skimmed , but most I read through to the end. 

By the way, I read any and all of the books, e-books and reports that I ever recommend in my AbundanceTogether emails. In case you don’t know, I am semi-retired and have plenty of free time on my hands. Plus, I’ve been in COVID lock-down for a number of months, with not much else to do. I admit to having taken a speed reading course back in College, so I can generally get through a book or essay pretty quickly.

Instead of electronic books I prefer paper copies that I can take down to the beach or read in the privacy of my throne room. I like to flip back and forth, reread pages, underline, and make notes along the borders and you can’t easily do that with e-books. I’ve been known to print off electronic copies of books just so that I have them on paper.

I try to read any book that my wife has read, shortly after she’s done so, so she and I can discuss the contents over dinner. She and I don’t necessarily always have the same taste in books however, or in movies or Netflix series either. I tend to be more flexible than she is [of course 😇] and I will sit through a chick flick whereby she’ll walk out of the TV room if I start to watch a space movie. I’m also known for occasionally buying a book that I like and then sending a copy to each of my two daughters. I think they have actually read some of them.

My wife gets some of the books  for us from the library while most I buy on Amazon, primarily because I get free Prime delivery. Occasionally, if they are less expensive than at Amazon, I’ll buy from Chapters/Indigo here in Canada. The catch, however, is that I usually have to spend a certain amount to get free shipping, so I generally overspend. There have also been times when I have received a hard copy of a book free, directly from the author, if I have paid for the shipping and handling charges. I know – it’s not exactly free, but it’s cheaper than the alternative. There are also a lot of no charge e-books and e-reports available online, or through promotions, that I download to read later on my computer.

During the cooler months I usually read in my living room with the fireplace on, sitting in my recliner, looking out at the trees and the lake, like I’m doing now. During the warmer months, I’m out on the back deck. I usually have a cup of black coffee and a pen and paper on hand. Harley the cat has a habit of nibbling on my toes and begging for another treat when I’m reading and I try to humour him. Occasionally he wants to lay down in the chair which I am using, so, because I’m a wonderful cat owner, and because he’s so old, I’ll give in and let him have it and move to another chair.

My early morning inspiration comes from Pocket Full of Miracles by Joan Borysenko, A Beginner’s Guide to the Universe by Mike Dooley, and Daily Word by Unity Worldwide Ministries. I read a page or two of each of them every day. Next on my list is rereading The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. Last time I read it I was still in my 20’s.

At the time of writing this blog [later February 2021] I’m eagerly looking forward to the birthday gift that my wife had promised me. It’s the newest novel by Stephen King. I should tell you that I’ve read pretty well every book he has ever written.

In the throne room I’m gradually working my way through the Science of Mind by Ernest Holmes. In the living room I’m currently finishing Millionaire Success Habits by Dean Graziosi and re-reading, for the third time, A Course in Miracles [it doesn’t seem to get any easier].

On my bedside table I have the book Crucial Conversations by a variety of authors, but I have admittedly not read very much of it since I usually reserve the bedroom for lovemaking and sleeping. My weekly online book study is The Way of Transformation by Jayem. All of that reading does not include the on-line and paper copies of the periodicals and magazines that I subscribe to. Yeah – I’m addicted to the written word aren’t I!

BTW – I’m in the process of writing my own book. It’s going to be a labour of love and I figure it’s going to take at least a year. To learn more about the writing process I’ve started reading the Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron as well as The Book You Were Born to Write by Kelly Notaras. I also enrolled in the Hay House Writers Community course and am really enjoying the weekly lessons. My new book is going to be a “real one” of 200 pages or so, compared to the e-book on The Law of Attraction that I wrote a few years ago. That one, Using the Law of Attraction [How To Increase Abundance In All Areas Of Your Life] was more of an extended report than a full-fledged book, being only 23 pages long. If you’re interested, you can buy it on Amazon or you can get it for free by clicking on this link. Yeah, I know – it’s a shameless plug.

Now, it seems that for every book that I read, I add two more to the stack of unread ones on my bookshelves. I promised my wife that I would not get anymore until I got through most of them, but I must admit that I’ve been buying some Kindle books on sale, with the plan of reading them on her laptop while on our next beach, resort or cottage vacation, or at our timeshare in the fall [COVID-19 permitting].

So, why don’t you join me in a reading challenge? I encourage you to set a goal for yourself and then track how many books you’ve actually read. Personally speaking, I want to average at least a book a week in 2021, and I’m doing quite well so far. I can usually read a novel in a day or two, but with the heavier and deeper inspirational and self-improvement books, I’ll read them over a period of weeks or even months. Just a chapter or page or two each day. I always have one or more of those going in my throne room.

As Adam Stanley tells us “It’s better to have your nose in a book, than in someone else’s business.” So get your act together, and then – grab a book😁

In closing, I must admit that this certainly has been a long blog compared to some of my previous ones. Hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to email me and let me know what you thought of it, and share your feelings about the topic of BOOKS.

Keep manifesting only good things 🙂 
Tony

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