To Read or Not? That is the question.

Two unrelated conversations triggered this thought process. The first occurred at a meeting between Language Arts teachers. In that meeting, the reading habits(or non reading) of youth were discussed. My main complaint at that time was that reading for enjoyment had declined and it showed in the students' scores. The other conversation was a text message from my sister-in-law asking what were the last three books I had read. The question made me stop for a moment. I struggled to remember three books that I had read in the last six months. How ironic it was that I complained not too far back about reading habits and with this simple question my habits had come to light. Am I part of a statistic now?

To begin with. reading has always been important in my life. My mom told stories of my Aunt Carolyn reading me to sleep. My mother told me that was the beginning of my thirst for reading. I remember growing up that I could never go to sleep without reading first. I even read Shogun every year because I loved that book. My family jokes that I read the entire encyclopedia. That is untrue but I did enjoy reading it from time to time as a way of learning new stuff. I proudly claim that I read the last Harry Potter book in one day. So, how am I now a statistic of reading decline? What has replaced my reading?

Now, I find my spare time spent watching TV or on the internet. My reading is now done in snippets and not marathon chunks. IS this bad? Am I deteriorating into a pre-Renaissance man or is this the next stage in evolution? Short articles and shows squeeze my relaxation time as does physical activity. Do I not make time for reading or is reading antiquated.

Reading books has three distinct advantages in my opinion. Reading a book increases your vocabulary. I cannot see how it could not. It contains so many words you cannot help but run across some you do not know. Also, seeing these words used in literature helps to solidify them in our minds. Another advantage is that reading allows us to immerse ourselves int eh mind of a character. Books are great about that. the ability to see inside a characters minds is unlocking secrets to our own. Finally, reading helps engage and activate the mind. The mind has to work hard as we read. It does not just absorb the information. It has to manipulate it and turn it into images and unravel its mysteries.

TV and the new short media has its one advantages. TV and other brief media are brief. The ability to get information quickly is great. Books take hours, while TV takes an hour or less. In our current world time is precious. TV also allows us to immerse in situations. We can suspend our reality for awhile. Finally, TV allows us to multi task. At this moment, I am listening to an interview while typing. It allows us to do two things at once. It engages our eyes and ears keeping our brain firing rapidly. More firing means more productivity. Is that a bad thing? Or is it just background noise to dull our thoughts and keep us comfortably numb.

Books have been used to stir the minds of populations and inspire people to rise to action. Common Sense, The Bible, Democracy in America, and On Liberty are just a few. Even entertaining books, such as Gulliver's Travels, were written to speak out against people and policies. Not all books have this impact or goal, but have we lost something because our reading habits need short lengths so the brain cannot be challenged and changed from extended exposure. Is TV and the internet now just a marketing tool? With so much misinformation and focus group studies being used, are we allowing TV to brainwash us? Before I become a luddite, TV and the internet are not from Satan. They bring quick information that is quickly digested. We are now able to be more informed than most governments were 60 years ago. We even get the information quicker than 40 years ago. More information is not a bad thing, right? Information is the key correct. We do not have years to wait on a book to be written. We are involved in the world today and change happens in the blink of the eye. What is right and what is wrong?

As a Literature teacher I want people to read but my habits do not espouse that policy. Is it bad not to read much? I am interested to hear the opinion of all two of you out there reading my blog. Should we read more, and how is it helpful? I am leaving this article unfinished, because I want your opinion.

Sing us a song, you're the piano man.

The impact of song on life is very evident. A song can make our day, fix our mood, or soothe our souls. Music's impact can be quick and very apparent. I thought for this blog the perfect title would come from Piano Man by Billy Joel. Sitting here listening to it makes my mood very thoughtful and uplifted. So right now I am going to create a blog playlist in order to help write this article. It will just be one second with the help of iTunes. Finished in under 5 minutes. I have 1 hour of selected songs in order to inspire my work today. So let the inspirations flow.

Songs are essential to movies, TV shows, and even elevators. We want to fill the quiet time in our life with song. I remember I was unable to study in college without music playing in the background. It blocked out everything else. Even now, I use my iPod to create playlists to help inspire me. I have a running playlist to help me keep pace or a playlist for cleaning. The iPod has made it so easy to manipulate our music that I think they are the new mix tapes of the 21st century. really, who has not created or been given a mix tape. the power of music can be seen in how a song can make or break a scene in a movie or show. the proper song harmonizes our mood with that of the character which allows us to connect to them in a deeper level. Song connects us all.

I have known for a long time that I look at life and listen for a song. What song reflects where I am at that moment in time? Or what song reflects who I am at that time? These songs help focus my life or allow my mood to wash over me covering me in its arms. When I am sad, a sad song allows me to experience sadness and feel joy at the same time. Isn't that funny? Songs tap into our emotions and allows our heart to sing. If you wonder if that is the case then watch how your body sways and responds when a powerful song comes on. We innately enjoy music. It has the power to free us.

Free us? Yes, I propose that music frees us. It makes our souls soar and lives prosper. A world with no music is a world with no hope or dreams. History points to this. The bible shows us one that one of the great worshipers of God was David. He composed hundreds of songs that glorify God's name. These songs or psalms have inspired hymn writers for centuries. Song was found in the fields of the South during slavery. African American slaves sang songs as they worked. Songs express what the heart wants to say. It frees us from our current situation and creates within us a new situation that we can experience. Many times songs begin and instantly my spirit changes. I begin an experience that can be tied to an old memory or inspire me to new thoughts and hopes. I am envious of anyone with the music talent. Their ability to inspire and mesmerize is a talent I want. Unfortunately, my singing ability is limited and my musical aptitude is very low. However, this does not stop me from attempting to sing my song. I recommend not being in the same room as I am. Songs present us with freedom from our current situations and emotions.

Also, songs can bring people together. Some of the most powerful memories are from concerts where the crowd starts singing the song. When the band stops playing and the crowd sings on, causes goose bumps to arise on my skin. In church when the whole congregation sings a favorite hymn, you can feel the electricity in the air rising. Songs off the top of my head that can rock a room are Sweet Caroline, YMCA, and Margaritaville. Those songs will get several people singing out loud.

What makes us respond to music?Sometimes, melodies attract me. Other times lyrics will be the enticer. On rarer occasions both will combine to create a song that transcends moods. These songs that combine lyrics and melody become songs that instantly transport me to a mood no matter what I am doing. They do not accentuate the mood; they create the mood. My wife will testify that I do not know many lyrics. Consequently, I am more attracted to the melody. Right now I am listening to Love the Way You Lie by Rhianna and Eminem. The melody is so cool.

I have found that once I find a new song that I like that I play it until everyone around me becomes sick of it. My current obsession is with the Avett Brothers. They sing folksy mellow songs that are pure awesomeness to my ears. I know that everyone else is tired of them but at this moment they speak to my life. In a year a new favorite will become my muse. Life changes just like our song does. However, the Avett Brothers will be able to transport me back to this time with their songs. That is the power of song.

Today, I embark on a bold experiment for 7th graders. I will ask them to choose a theme song for their life. It is a scary prospect based on their listening choices and limited life experience. I look forward to seeing what insights the songs give me. I have chosen Phil Collins' In the Air Tonight. It is a song from my high school years that represent my time in sports. It melody matches my personality. A slow rhythm that has burst of intensity like myself. I also like the lyrics as I often feel something coming in the air. The electricity and smell that precedes a storm is one of my favorite things to experience. What would be your theme song? Sing us a song, you're the piano man.

Check What?

Yes, I am back with my mindless drivel about all things media. Why am I now dusting off the blog and attempting to reach back out to the cyberworld ? If you remember, I started this blog in an attempt to improve my writing. Through laziness, I fell off the wagon and never dared to approach this medium again. To be truthful, I felt like I had nothing to say. You know what. I don't have anything of value to say. Consequently, this blog will relate my view of how the world operates through my media tinted eyes. However, I am sure that it will not be a huge benefit to society. This is not a bad thing. My reason then and now was to improve my writing through the practice of writing (I know I tell my students all the time that it works that way but who would have thunk it). Consequently, the practice of writing is the goal and not to make something that will be treasured at Blog Nirvana (Is that in Seattle?). My goal is to present a blog every Saturday and hopefully I will improve or drive off all my readers. The possibilities are endless. Enough of a prologue to this great experiment, let's get cracking.

Cleaned the bathrooms - check. Groceries bought and put away - check. Comic books bought and read - check. Run a mile today - check. Sometimes, I feel my life has checklist after checklist. After I finish something there is no satisfaction, only knowledge of what must get done before the stress will leave my body. Along those lines, I have noticed the programs being designed to help all of us manage our lists and keep our lives checked off (Please no Star Trek jokes and if you do not know Star Trek then no nerd jokes ) . Stunning To Do List can even be found on my iTouch. Likewise, Outlook has the ability to help organize your lists. Even Franklin Planner has a whole industry devoted to the list business. It is their effort to make us ultra efficient so we can enjoy life and stay stress free. Ironically, the lists only help to stress me out as they grow longer and remain uncompleted.

While cleaning the bathroom today, I had a Sheapiphany. Do not confuse this with a epiphany which is the sudden realization or comprehension of the essence or meaning of something. A Sheapiphany is the altering of reality to conform meaning to the way of life that Shea feels at that moment. While scrubbing, I realized that cleaning the bathroom was not on my to do list for the day. Actually, I had not made one. However, the act of cleaning was a goal for the day. To me that distinction made all the difference in the world. I listened to the Avett Brothers on the iTouch while I enjoyed the hour long cleaning I gave the bathroom. There in the midst of the vinegar fumes a Sheapiphany occurred. I realized that the difference between a check on a "to do" list and a goal was enormous. Some would argue they are the same , mainly my wife, but I beg to differ.

Checks represent the stuff that is in the way of happiness. Instances where things interrupts life. However, a goal recognizes an accomplishment in life and is followed by celebration. Checks seem to get in the way of passion, while goals embrace passion. Now it does seem weird to be passionate about cleaning, but I wanted a clean house. Cleaning was no longer in the way of life but another goal in life. Once, I had read about Jewish rabbi who embraced mundane tasks as a way to pray to God. In these tasks, he worked to please God. With that goal during his tasks, he felt happiness during those endeavors. I will agree that making cleaning a goal every week is hard, but if I can then it will be more satisfying.

Before you quit reading, think on this. Checklists are created by obsessive compulsive (OCD) and anal retentive (AR) people in order to bring order to their world trying to contain the stress. Unfortunately, these people have transfered their habits into the collective sub-conscious of humanity. This makes us believe in the sacred need for lists to be productive. Color coded, tabbed, tagged, and labeled are their goals. Thus, driving the passion from these tasks and creating a negative aura around them. Checklists give me stress, and their completion just makes me let out a sigh of relief. No joy in it, just thankfulness for surviving. Items not done on checklists serve as failure, while goals not accomplished just means we try harder. If you are unable to see the difference between a goal and a check, then you might be OCD or AR. That is fine but don't drag me down.

The chief enabler of the checklist mentality is Bill Gates. His many products are made to delight the OCD and AR people. These products try to make their lives more productive, which allows time for more productivity. Nothing is wrong with productivity, but it is not what inspires me. I do not know anyone who said that checklist changed my life. On the other hand, goals are what help us to achieve and inspire us to do more.

I am a nonconformist slacker who is tired of an OCD world. I liken myself to Steve Jobs who goes for art. Allow the brain to breathe and create is what I say. Some would say that the iTouch ,a Jobs creation, is the ultimate OCD tool, but I would argue that it was not created to make your life more productive. It was created to enhance the iPod experience in media. Who knew it would be hijacked by OCDers for their nefarious uses. The iTouch remains the place for dreams.

One last thought, the term slacker is a misnomer on a certain type of individual. Anyone who does not ascribe to the checklist mantra is deemed a slacker and unproductive. While our productivity is not measured with checks, it is just as impressive. Break out of those chains and embrace the passion. I think if more people spent sometime in Slackerville then smiles might be more prevalent.

(Thanks for reading my latest blog. Take my insights as humorous musing from a contrarian. No offense is intended as OCD and AR people are some the best people I know and they sure do get stuff done. Stay tuned for something from my mind next Saturday. Oh by the way I was not careful with my indentions for paragraphs. I have no idea if they line up or not. I am such a rebel.)