Never judge a book by its cover. A clever twist from, “It is the heart One sees.”
I am starting to take note, while not as concrete, I handle books the way I handle people.
Both people and books have titles to be found that allows one to determine further interest.
Both people and books have essentially a synopsis to which what one has to offer can be figured out.
Like interactions with people, there are books that although I was drawn to have some interest to start reading at first, I find myself having no regret of ever finishing.
In the act of pursuance, there is a hesitation that, at some point, takes place. Within that hesitant pause, I process what I’ve read so far, thinking, perhaps, I was just not in the right heart, mind, body, and spirit to receive the messages or information conveyed.
Most often, I read a little back just to make sure I was clear of what I’d taken in so far before reading further. Then, that moment happens.
It is where I see myself carefully closing the book before setting it down. It is that very moment where the hesitation takes place. That pause.
I let the book sit, allow it to stare at me for some time, before I manage to talk myself into picking it up once more.
I read a little further, pushing myself to find more openness to my otherwise closed understanding.
I do my best to read through, searching within for satisfaction of anything I can grasp that would hold helpful to my search for answers- my main drive for reading.
A second chance occurs. I intently read, really digging deep for needed meaning.
Then, that silent, perhaps not even noticed if anyone else were to be in the room, sigh, is given off with a peaceful breath.
I see that I have put the book down once more but perhaps one last time. It is at this moment where I find myself at a bridge of decision- keep reading to the finish or, close the book for good.
This last book, which respectfully, I will not name, I held no emotion to do just that.
No matter the struggles and challenges shared, my heart, mind, body, and spirit can only take so much if I don’t sense that there is any form of sensible resolution.
Victory in the end, of any presented trials and tribulations throughout a book, is like the light at the end of any tunnel.
When reading and a problem is clearly presented, do we not want to keep on to find the solution?
Not everything has to have a good plot if the purpose is sought out and delivered.
Even a good cookbook delivers its intent. Yes? The challenge: to offer recipes to one’s need for cooking or baking ideas. The solution: various recipes and with the best ones, suggestions along with step-to-step instructions on how to produce each to the finish.
While fictional novels are entertaining, some remarkably written in detail to where its follow-up movie leaves you dissatisfied, I personally can’t feel truth of a matter written unless I know the accounts to have somewhat in reality, occurred.
If I start a book I’ve decided was noteworthy to begin, as long as I can sense through the author’s words that there will be a resolution at the end, I am enthralled, quite glued to turn the pages.
Although I may have not been there, I know I grow awareness of what is or has occurred around me through descriptive words, as if walking into every scene.
I desire the travel of the mind to where I can choose further beyond colors, sounds, and scenery.
Like water, soil, and sun, the commingling feeds me to wanted if not, needed, sustenance.
I feed on growth and development. Who shouldn’t hunger for such splendor of priceless wealth?
Should we not want to be filled with as much nutrients to our growth?
Should we not want to grow and develop fully all up to the end?
Should we not want other paths to have helped us break through our own sought-out or given challenges so that in our pruning, we grow taller and stronger?
Are we not victors needing victories to make us so?
Like a collectible novel, all human life should seek to have a good resolution within their last chapter. Yes? Why strive for anything less?
If the end seems somewhat a failure or disappointment, one should just create another chapter. Yes?
If one leaves this world unfinished, one should have left something behind for offspring to follow and thus, continue. Yes?
Tradespeople. Aren’t we all? Shouldn’t we be all? No matter the skill, is not the skill worth teaching for the expansion of good and sound wisdom throughout humanity?
How to change the heating element of your dryer? Yes. I absolutely purchased the piece to our dryer to replace it not once, but twice now, utilizing what I refer to as YouTube University.
Could I now teach others? Yes. Who first gave me the idea about perhaps the heating element needing replacement when your dryer no longer produces heat? A college classmate of mine who had just finished service as a bomb reconnaissance officer thinking to next journey into the medical field.
When one has a problem, another can offer a solution.
Why would anyone want more problems?
How I wish I could say there is no reason for it but I understood early that cobblestone roads make forever paths whereas asphalts create job security for a lifetime.
While others seek solutions, others thrive in chaos.
So, when reading, although I may already sense how the book should end when a good pace is executed within a story, it is the very desire to see how justice will be served within the conclusion of the story where I find myself committed to arrive to the very last page.
It is a form of celebratory feeling, some redemption of what at first, was a shared feeling of the author’s portrayal of unwanted truth.
There must be a good end to our undesired moments.
No matter how long the path of wrong has taken, no matter how many years the wrong was portrayed or accepted to be right, one must persevere to arrive at knowing that with might and power, good will come from evil, light will be found again from darkness, once truth is unveiled or revealed.
Stories of vindication, overcoming obstacles, beating out the odds journalized serves as comfort for others that through trials and tribulations, outcome of good can be found.
When reading, I find myself under the role of that one who supports the author in silence, as if they don’t know whether or not they will get to the finish but I am there to see that they will indeed see the light- I will be there to make sure of it.
If I don’t finish the book, they will never see the end of their struggles.
Kind of strange, perhaps, and understandably so but, if I can feel the words, I can travel with them until the book is done.
The drive gets real.
It sounds funny, I know. However, I would like to think that the energy I gave at the moment of reading to the end was the same I had already provided at the moment they ventured into the challenge.
I’d like to think I was there, giving them hope and pushing them along to victory.
And, so, upon reading the written book, it is as if they are recalling their story from their point of view, me listening in, knowing I was there at the end of their victory from the start of it all.
And, then, like a therapist who already knows they will be making a lot more from this patient than another, there are books that just rant about the problems with no solutions at all.
I get that we all have to vent at times.
Even my husband and I point out to one another if we’ve gone on too long to complain about a situation. There are just times where we have to release negative energy in able to mince the very likings to dust.
The difference between ranting and releasing is that the latter has already decided to fix whatever the seen problem may be.
The ranting, however, has no satisfying end.
In fact, it seems that the complaints must build upon another to continue to exist.
It’s like the student talking about other people’s issues one day after another to validate their very own existence.
Without problems, it’s as if one exhibits to not exist.
In this last book, I went as far as one-third to read, taking mindful note of all the issues with intentions to fix the growing number of prisoners.
I was like, yes. Tell me more about this and whatever your solution, it will be better than no solution at all.
And, then, a discomfort began to grow in me.
There were testimonies after testimonies of those who committed theft and drug use (theft mainly because of drug use) to the evident focus becaming how these criminals were being handled.
I kept wondering, Who are looking for the drug pushers? Which industry should be held liable for why this is seemingly growing?
When termites eat away the wood that can take down a home, do we not focus on how to prevent or rid of termites? How is it we somewhat think repairing or replacing wood and beams will be the permanent solution?
Do we just repeatedly repair once the wooden frames become unstable again?
Whenever I am not able to get an answer to my now loudly whispering in my ear question as I read, I find myself struggling to understand why more of the dramatic effects but not rid of the dramatic cause?
In this last book, while the testimonies were real, outcries of how jurisdiction failed to make them better but rather get them worse, I couldn’t support the essentially, now becoming to me, blasé of complaints.
I feathered through the next chapters, briefing myself of the upcoming chapters I would read if I were to continue reading this book. Ultimately, I couldn’t find it.
I couldn’t find a counter to the problem: find the culprits and exploit them, at the least.
It being that, what would have been to my satisfaction, would have been to reveal the establishments and corporations who pushed these issues into our communities.
I wanted that book. This book wasn’t it.
Why? Some books have a good story plot with a good ending; some books are fixated on the climax after climax with fear to end.
A resolution was never part of the plan.
I am convinced that there have been many to have read this book with great satisfaction. I am but one who decided not to finish it.
Perhaps there are just those who want to keep focusing on the issue while the matter could have been handled before it even became an issue at all. Or, once the gut of the problem has been pinpointed, immediate resistance takes place.
When we speak of a situation, I, being a wife, mother, and teacher, look back to reflect at what point had this hinted to become an issue?
We are each at fault for letting something grow into a mountain from a molehill, a phrase Mama used to say.
Great things come out of chaos. This is simple for me to see now. Sir Isaac Newton and all others who speak of resistance have proven their point time and time again.
The stronger resistance wins.
It is in the (accidental?) ingenuity of those who continue to create problems with no plans to be solved but just stem off to yet another kind of problem whereas several can see themselves succeed.
Success is in the eyes of the beholder?
The matrix of problematic circumstances not meant to be solved or resolved.
Why?
Shall a matrix continue if, with an end?
A book. A person.
Don’t judge a book by its cover.
It is the heart One sees.
