Joyful Jubilant Learning

I Don't Have Time To Read

I love to read. As a kid I would spend hours reading the latest Hardy Boys mystery novel or pick up a new Tom Swift book and explore one of his unbelievable inventions. The hours would pass quickly, and I usually found that I couldn't put the book down until the last page was turned.

As I grew older, the titles changed, but my love of reading just grew stronger. I loved to read science books and was always fascinated with new inventions and space travel. Once I started to drive, I would pick up books and magazines about cars and hot rods. Reading was fun!

Unfortunately, as the years have passed, my time available for reading has diminished. The commute to work got longer and the activities of life have really increased. When someone hands me a book now, I try to figure out when I can squeeze it in to my schedule.

I've tried some different techniques to fit reading in, but many of them have not worked well. I've tried reading in the car when carpooling, but that just makes me carsick after a few minutes. I've tried reading while out walking, but that has led to busted shins and falling off curbs. I've even tried reading while on the treadmill, but after flying off the machine a few times I realized that I can't read and run at the same time.

In the last few years another problem has crept up. As soon as I received my dreaded AARP card in the mail (This happens at 49 and a half. They track you by satellite and make sure your AARP membership letter is in your mailbox on that dreaded day. You can't hide... they will find you), I noticed that my reading vision has started to change. My eye doctor corrected this with progressive lenses, but that plays havoc with reading in any position other than sitting in a chair.

I used to love reading while laying on the couch, one arm propping my head up. With progressive lenses my field of vision is now severely blurred in this position. These crazy glasses have also ruined a good book while reading in bed, sitting in a recliner, or trying to read while cooking. In short... reading for any length of time is now confined to sitting up straight, just like my Mom told me to do. Arrrgh!

I thought that my reading days were almost over until one day when a little device found its way into my life. Called an iPod, this little audio device has revolutionized the way I partake of books. Instead of reading them, I now listen to them... while driving, walking, and even running on the treadmill. No more busted shins or flying off exercise equipment.

This little device has allowed me to devour over 50 books in the last year. Popular titles like Blink, Made To Stick, and even a classic like How To Win Friends & Influence People have filled my ears with wisdom and insight.

The really great thing is that I've finished everyone of them. No more half finished books laying on the coffee table, on the floor, or in the back seat in the car.

In conclusion... if you find that your schedule is big, your commute is long, or your eyesight is going, be sure to pick up an iPod, sign up for an Audible.com account and start downloading audio books. If you have problems... just ask your kids... they can get you setup!

Enjoy!

P.S. You can read about some of my adventures with audio books on my specialty blog Audio Book Notes

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John Richardson is the author of Success Begins Today, a personal development blog devoted to practical applications that can make life an exciting adventure. From a wallet sized personal organizer to a desktop flow chart you're sure to find something here that you can download and enjoy. John always enjoys learning new things and suggests you try a powerful 48 minute working technique that can help you focus and get more done. Here's to your success!

Beware the meme, it may contain more than it seems

Have you taken part in a meme? I have. I don’t jump on every one that comes along but once in awhile, I do find time to participate when it catches my interest. A meme can take many forms. It can be a set of questions to answer (Five things you don’t know about me, is a popular one). Or a set of instructions to follow (like one book meme I recall, that had you go to the first book in your pile, turn to x page, etc.). Or you input the URL of a blog and it does some analysis to produce a widget to post on your blog and attract additional folks to the meme. Like how much is your blog worth? For grins, I checked on this Joyful Jubilant Learning blog to find:

My blog is worth $127,586.04.
How much is your blog worth?

Of course, we are all richer for the learning we share!

I think this example helps to show that memes like this are generally good fun. They tend to further the sharing of information about one another. They do take time and depending upon the viral nature of them, an individual could get tagged about the same time from a couple of different folks.

Some folks decide not to partake in them and I respect their decision. If the person is one I want to know more about, then it is not a big deal. It actually provides a opportunity to further the conversation outside the meme and achieve the same goal; a deeper relationship.

The most recent widget meme I participated in occurred early in January this year. I picked it up from one blog in my PodCamp group. The meme in this case was a widget that advertised the readability of the blog. I had seen a similar one a year or so ago and was curious to see if there were any changes in readability since then. I posted the results and went on my way.

A couple of weeks ago I received an email from Michael Pollitt, a free-lance writer for the Guardian (UK). He wrote:

It's A "Wonder"ful Time Of The Year

Every so often, I become very conscious of how easily I fall into the commercialism that surrounds the Christmas season. I love giving and receiving gifts as much as the next guy (perhaps even more so). I just don't want to lose sight of what's most important and what's most significant about the holiday season.

As I was reading through some of the posts that have already been written this month on Joyful Jubilant Learning, my eyes caught the left hand margin - The Seven Wonders of JJL.

I remember when we created that list. We were looking for a unique way to share our learning when the calendar struck 7-7-07. Each of those seven "L" words helped us organize our ideas and thoughts.

As I looked over the list, I thought, "They'd make a great Christmas list!"

So in your quest to find the most meaningful of gifts this year, I offer the following:

LISTEN — Listening is so much harder than talking. If you listen, REALLY listen to others, you are offering them a gift that will communicate just how much you value them. Give someone your attention.

LAUGH — Laughter is so much fun. It has a way of healing the soul. Learning to laugh at yourself lightens your spirit. Give someone a moment to laugh so hard it brings tears to their eyes.

LEARN — Learning expands your world. Help others become the people they are meant to be by not remaining the people that they are - grow their minds. Give someone a chance to grow in a new direction.

LINK — My network grows as when I connect to the network of another. My own experience and connections might be a tremendous resource for someone else. Give someone an opportunity he or she might not be able to get on their own.

LOVE — The holidays have a way of magnifying the level of intensity we feel in our relationships. Make sure the ones you love know it. Give your love away. It's much more effective when it's shared.

LIVE — I once heard it said that the life you live, just might be your very own. With that in mind, come alongside others and find ways for them to get the absolute most out of life. Give someone a way to appreciate the best gift that each of us have...TODAY.

LEAP — Sometimes, the hardest step in a new direction is the first one. You can be an en"courage"r in the life of someone else. You can help them believe in themselves and to believe in their dream. The most exiting changes in the right direction happen when one jumps in with both feet. Give someone the courage to jump.

Do you remember what you got last year for Christmas? I'm struggling to do it even as I write this.

If you give gifts that flow from the spirit of the list above, you'll be giving something memorable and meaningful. They'll be gifts that last.
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Tim Milburn approaches life a lot like he approaches presents, enthusiastically moving past the surface of things so that he can get to the heart of the matter. He dedicates much of his time to developing student leaders through his blog and resources at www.studentlinc.net.

If I was a life long learner

Our collaborative effort is complete. If you are not familiar with the original song you can view it via YouTube.

And with our sincere apologies to the Barenaked Ladies here is the JJL version:

If I was a life long learner (If I was a life long learner)
I'd write on my blog (I'd write on my blog)
If I was a life long learner (If I was a life long learner)
I'd buy a real new computer (maybe a nice Apple or an HP)
If I was a life long learner (If I was a life long learner)
I'd learn to use del.icio.us (a big fancy link-sharing machine )
If I was a life long learner, I'd link to you

If I was a life long learner
I'd join a group of joyful learners
If I was a life long learner
You could help, it wouldn't be that hard
If I was a life long learner
Maybe we could collaborate on a song
Wouldn't that be wonderful!

If I was a life long learner (If I was a life long learner)
I'd send you an email (but not a spam email, that's cruel)
If I was a life long learner (If I was a life long learner)
I'd invite you to the group (like LinkedIn or FaceBook)
If I was a life long learner (If I was a life long learner)
I'd record a podcast (maybe a video someday)
If I was a life long learner I'd link to you

If I was a life long learner
We wouldn't have to walk to the library
If I was a life long learner
We'd ask the group a question something we didn't know
If I was a life long learner We wouldn't have to go without knowing

If I was a life long learner (If I was a life long learner)
I'd live without watching TV (especially a reality show, that's cruel)
If I was a life long learner (If I was a life long learner)
I'd leap to help someone in need (like a good Samaritan)
If I was a life long learner (If I was a life long learner)
I'd laugh with you at good jokes (maybe tell one myself)
If I was a life long learner I'd love to link to you.

Selling myself short - it's hard to make a difference if you don't believe you can

“...The recognition, the realisation, that I’m less than totally brilliant at – or confident in – tooting my own horn. And the more I reflect on it, the more I suspect that’s what I need to focus on learning.  Perhaps because it feels like a stretch. ”

Those words of Joanna’s struck a chord within me that resonated long after I could no longer hear the note, like a beautiful harmony that goes on and on and on.

I was sitting at my computer catching up on the wonderful writings about making a difference here at JJL, and thinking about the fact that I would soon need to nail my own contribution. I was curious about what I would write about.

Joanna had a recognition that she isn’t confident, “or brilliant” at tooting her own horn. And suddenly, I knew what it was I am to write about – because I need to learn it! Often I will sit down to write, or to coach, and what I most need to learn becomes the subject matter. Today is no different.

I have been told a lot lately that I need to KNOW it… accept it… feel it... live it.

What’s “it”?

The trusting and knowing that I make a difference in the lives of others.

I grew up not realising that I made a difference to those around me. I felt that it was more of a one-way street, that my friends made a difference in my life. And so I struggled endlessly to ensure I gave something back.

A couple of years ago, I had a phone consultation with William Whitecloud – author of The Magicians Way. He told me my false belief was that I don’t make a difference.

Recently, in my practicum classes at Coach U where I am doing my final classes to graduate their Advanced Coaching Program I have been held to scrutiny by the class leader – a Master Certified Coach – who wanted to know when I was going to KNOW that I am a masterful coach, a coach who makes difference (in front of the whole class!!).

Just this last week, I led my first group coaching call to a group of my classmates – and one of the participants gave me this feedback: “Give yourself credit for a job well done! Really let the comments on all your strengths sink in and allow you to really believe in you! I have had the pleasure to work with you several times now, Karen! You are a treasure!”

And with this history (and all that mind-talk that happens at moments like these), I read Joanna’s post about Realising the Power of our Words. It was like all these pieces of a puzzle that I have been collecting and diligently placing on the table suddenly grouped themselves together and became the most delightful picture, lit by soft glorious sunbeams.

I need to recognize and really know, deep in my heart, that I make a difference in order to make an even bigger contribution to the world in which I live.

I'd like to take a loan of Joanna’s words, and make them my own:

Because I know it will take me out of my comfort zone (waaay out there!).

Because it will force me to learn new skills: how to connect with people individually and en masse to really get to the heart of what they need, and how best to make a difference in their lives; how to listen even deeper to the words left unsaid; and how to shine my light brightly (another challenge!) so that the difference I make can be felt by all who need it.

Because it will get me out of my own fear and have me moving forward. 

Without the belief that we can make a difference, we live smaller lives – lives with less meaning and purpose. Lives stunted by our own self-imposed limitations.

I’m accepting the challenge… and I really want to know if you’d join me in knowing that you, too, make a difference in the lives of others.

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along. You must do the thing you think you cannot do.

        - Eleanor Roosevelt

 

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Karen Wallace (finally) believes she makes a difference to the lives of others; helping them find that sense of calm that allows their hearts to sing with joy.  Karen is editor of The Calm Space - a virtual magazine that is like a day-spa for your senses... launching October 1st!

Notes to Make a Difference by (text)

The collaboration and learning here during this month is quite amazing. I was beginning to panic on what I could add to this impressive discussion. Fortunately, the radio was on. Pat Benetar was belting out:

"We are strong, no one can tell us we are wrong."

We are strong and look how much stronger we are getting! Then Neil Diamond chimed in:

"I am," I said
To no one there
And no one heard at all
Not even the chair

Thanks to the read/write web, the days that Neil sang of I think are mostly behind us. We can still be reflective, but someone will hear or read it when we post. And then the conversation will start, and if we take the blog off the blog, who knows what will happen!