I read. I am a great believer in continuing to learn always and so reading, for me, is a great source of all that.
Having worked for many years as a teacher and assisting students with literacy development I understand the importance of being able to transition from learning to read to reading to learn - and for many, this just doesn’t happen naturally or easily.
I think if you hit a roadblock and you decide to resist the whole reading thing then:
‘Hello 21st Century!’
- you’re in luck and you don’t have to miss out, you have options galore. Which brings me to the 3 books I love and recommend which illustrate some of these options. One of the overriding ideas in each of these books is the value and service that you can channel if you just get out of your own way and keep showing up to do the thing you’re meant to do.
1. ‘Big Magic’ by Elizabeth Gilbert - I listened to the audiobook, (a short read, about 5 hours) - the smooth and welcoming voice of the author, Elizabeth, as she lead me through her beautiful book, was a whole other level of immersion into learning. I find audio books highly personal - hearing an authors voice speaking the words they wrote with the enthusiasm and intonation intended. If you haven’t read ‘Big Magic’ and you’re a creative, well, you're in for a treat. Forget the eat, pray, love Liz Gilbert book and all that hype with the movie - ‘Big Magic’ isn’t a story but many stories including Elizabeths own experience of becoming and being a creative and in her case, more specifically, a writer. But this book brought me to a fuller understanding of how creativity is an approach and a mindset as well as a discipline - it’s a decision and a direction but it does require a certain level of showing up and compassion towards yourself as you find your own outlet and voice in whatever medium you choose. The understanding and acceptance of the fact that you will fail but that this is necessary to keep moving forward. I believe quitting at first try because what you made was - a bit crap - is a sign of immaturity.
Like 9 year old me at the doors to Pennant Hills Community Centre when I was supposed to have my first classical ballet exam - I walked away and never went back. What door did I close there that could’ve lead me somewhere?
Of course there’s also wisdom in deciding to walk away when you realise that you’re not interested or passionate enough but if that’s your first reaction in the first 5 minutes maybe, just maybe, there’s more to see, to consider and explore… Elizabeth also had the good sense and generosity to create a short project as a podcast called ‘Magic Lessons’ - for the first season she asked people to write in about their issue in their creative field then she picked 10. For each person she spoke with them, gave them some homework, followed up with an ‘expert’ friend of hers in that field (big names here) then all together they spoke again and the creative person who needed a bit more direction and inspiration gets a good injection of all of that and goes on their way. Brilliant!
The Book
The podcast
2. ’Steal like an Artist’ by Austin Kleon - I’m showing you this book because - what a delight - such an easy and fun read, practically a picture book but power packed with brilliance and a myriad of thought provoking concepts about creativity. I LOVED this book and want to gift it to everyone I know. It’s practically a picture book - illustrations and some photos, very succinct grabs of key points, not too much detail but as I said, it’s powerful. I particularly loved the concept that artists leave their lesson plans in their work. He floats this idea that you can study and learn about any artist, dead or alive, and build on their ideas in your own unique way. Austin points out very clearly that, although your family origins are set, you can choose your own mentors and build your own curriculum of learning. The book is full of brilliant quotes and written in 2012 is still SOOO relevant. Probably the only addition now would be a little chapter on AI. As Austin says in his afterword written in 2021, the book is a collage of other peoples ideas and so his book illustrates the title beautifully.
3. The Artists Way by Julia Cameron - this is a bit like a recipe book but not for food - it’s really an activity book packed full of ways to uncover more of yourself as a creative. I can see why people read it over and over again at different times of their career. The main concepts of the book are about:
...unlocking your flow state by loosening up and feeding your mind and eyes with all the visual wonder around us...
It implores you to take some time to yourself, to get quiet and listen, to realign and redefine what your creative mantra or prayer to yourself is and keep this at the forefront of your mind, actually embed it into your core values, to help drive you to fulfil your calling, whatever form that may be.
Book shop link
Other great ways to access reading include using Google add-on Read & Write and just your simple highlight the text, right click and choose speech - start speaking.
This is a Mac example but most computers these days have a speech option.
If you’ve made it this far perhaps you’d like to subscribe to my membership - once I have the first 30 members I’m going to put all your names in a hat, pick one out and send a FREE copy of one of the above books of your choice in whatever format you would like.
Have a great day and remember to be kind to yourself and others,
Love M x
PS I have no affiliation with any book shops or podcast providers.
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