READING

A LETTER TO A FRIEND ON READING

Dear Friend,

I hope to respond to your observation without being proud. You've placed me in a position where it is easy to jubilate and wallow in your praise, but let me let you in something important; whenever I am reading, I am unaware of whether or not others are noticing. The only time I think about others is when there is a point I read that fits a character in real life or when I feel this person or that person needs to read the book.

You see, life is short. We cannot build our lives around accolades, awards, recognition, achievements, or even fun. Life is too short. We must do all that we can with the time that we have. I wouldn't be here forever, and I don't have all the time to make all the mistakes before I start living. I can avoid many mistakes by simply learning about those of others. "A wise man," I was told, "learns from the mistake of others."

I see reading as my form of school.

And honestly, I don't want to read when I'm old. Yes. If I am still here to say maybe 60 or 70 or 80, I don't want to be found reading like I am currently doing; I would love to travel to Mars, play Play Station, play with AI, or code stuff. So in my life order, I've just one time that I can really do all these readings, which is now. And by the way, I need this knowledge during my mid-years, not at old age. It makes sense to me that I am acquiring knowledge now since I will need it at this point more than when I'm weak, weary, and not very dreamy.

I don't know how I get to find time to read, but I know I have to; eventually, I do read.

The walk between my room and the bathroom is 30 seconds; many times, when I wake up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, in between those short seconds, I read a line or two and then go back to sleep. Now calculate that 1-minute crazy midnight reading for 30 days; that's 30 minutes; calculate for 365 days...that's a long thing, brother. Well, that's how I read. When in the Keke, I read. When I am walking, I'm reading. Reading is important since you know that you have to read.

Again, for me, I don't chat at night (hours of 9-12). Man, I cannot be awake at that time and be chatting. That's crazy. Waste of time. That's another culvert for my reading.

Reading is no easy task. It might be fun; it might not be. However, it is rewarding. It is one trait you will be grateful you develop if you're able to do so.

And share your thoughts with someone whenever you read a great book. Great books make great men.

May God be with you.