Don't Fear the Reading

I recently attended an event where I heard one of the speakers say that he didn’t read any fiction books if he didn’t like the author’s message. I realize that we all have different reasons for why we read the things we read, but I lose respect for people who tell me they don’t read a particular author because they disagree with the message.

One of the key issues with this statement is that there is no way to know an author’s message until you’ve read the book. So there’s an underlying issue that this individual doesn’t want to listen to viewpoints different from his own. If his primary desire is to be closed minded, then why is he reading at all? Reading opens up worlds. If your desire is to enclose your world as much as possible, then opening a book is the wrong place to go.

Just because an author has different religious or political beliefs doesn’t mean that the author can’t tell a story or has nothing valuable to say. If the author views the world differently, it can get us thinking about our own views in a way that strengthens and refines them. This is a good thing.

The Murakami quote in the meme at the top of this post is one of my favorites. Reading stretches the mind and opens up worlds. Reading books from different perspectives is an artistic dialog between the author and reader. No one has to be right or wrong. It’s really about the conversation. And the more we converse, the more potential we have to make the world we live in a better pace.


So don't be afraid to read about different perspectives. You may even discover new things about yourself.

Making Up Band Names ... Again!

Been a little swamped in the new year, but I suddenly realized that I haven’t made up any new band names for awhile. So here we go ...

Illicit label
A Rap/ Hip Hop band that cross markets in the liquor industry to endorse a spirit of the same name. Whenever I’m in the “Wine and Spirits” store I often ask the manager for the section of “slightly mischievous but not quite evil spirits,” so perhaps Illicit Label Spirits will use my tag line on the bottles and it they will say: “slightly mischievous, but not quite evil. Illicit in both label and attitude.”

Eyesore Across the Alley
A Grunge Band, of course. All the band photos should be taken in alleys where famous people have died.

Small Gods
This is the name of one of my favorite books by Terry Pratchett and as soon as I saw the title I thought it would be an awesome band name. So here it is. After all, rock stars are really small gods in our culture so why not be honest about it?

Downtown Beaver Dam
A bluegrass band.  That jug player better hit his pitch or we’re not letting him choose the contents of the jug.

Crime Slut
This is another all girl band and all I can visualize is black leather and glossy red lips. If you dress the women appropriately it doesn’t matter what they sound like.

Your Conscience
I just think it would be funny for the band to announce “Thank you for coming to hear us. We are Your Conscience.”


For those of you who missed them, my previous posts on band names with such classics as “Funky Cupcake” and “Pancake Maggots” are located here and here.  Enjoy and keep rocking in the new year!

Timing in The New Year

 I don’t make new year’s resolutions and I pay little attention to the calendar cycle. In fact, I started following John Lennon’s advice and stopped counting my life by years so long ago that whenever I’m asked my age I have to calculate it. For those of you unfamiliar with the quote, John said, “Count your age by friends, not years. Count your life by smiles, not tears.” I measure my life by the quality of the friends I have and not the quantity.

We put so much emphasis on taking stock of our lives at the end of a calendar year, but I’ve learned that the seasons of life rarely follow this schedule. The Bible tells us that there is a time for every season under heaven. However, our individual seasons don’t always follow nature’s patterns and cycles.

I make new resolutions when I need them. Timing is everything, so don’t wait for the calendar to tell you when to make a change. Make it when the time is right.

Here are the two rules I follow when it comes to making resolutions:

1. The time to make a change is when you realize that you need it.
2. The time to move forward is always.

Secondly, it’s always an appropriate time to surround yourself with the right people. These are the ones that aren’t usually born into your family but that you’re lucky enough to find. The ones who inspire you and help you to become the best version of you possible. If there was a new year’s resolution worth making, it would be to spend more time with these people and develop those relationships in the coming year. Two of my favorite quotes explain why:

“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”
    ― Marcel Proust

“A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.”
    ― John Lennon

Happy New Year. May you develop the most positive relationships, and may you work together with those you love to make your dreams reality.