Reading: The Old Way is Not the Only Way

Maceo Keeling - SCORE Member, Business Owner and Consultant. Photo: Urban News
Maceo Keeling – SCORE Member, Business Owner and Consultant. Photo: Urban News
By Maceo Keeling

Today’s article is about a personal experience.

I often find it difficult to read a book for entertainment or for information. The words seem to be cemented on the page and almost impossible to lift into my mind in order for me to retain the information. More often than not, I find myself falling asleep with the book in my hand or putting it down before completing the reading I had set out to do.

In my early years as a student my parents thought glasses would be the answer. After nine exams I received some glasses and became excited about reading again. But that excitement was short-lived: the only thing that changed was that I could see more clearly what I didn’t want to read.

So how could I get around this? Clearly my distaste for reading and my lack of ability to retain the information I read was difficult and very challenging. Yet it is clear that to be successful one must be well-informed, and successful people have this in common: they read consistently, almost daily. So I encouraged my children to read when they were little, and it is a practice they have come to enjoy. In fact, my son is currently reading one book every day.

I decided to take a closer look at why I should read. Certainly, reading will give me information and help me to gain knowledge: it is an education without walls. It will also keep me informed on current events. And, most important, reading can be a passport that liberates my mind, opens my imagination, and fuel my goals.

We have a responsibility to our family, and our community, to become educated on some level, and there are many ways to do it. There was a campaign years ago called “Reading is Fundamental.” I agree wholeheartedly. And today there are many wonderful alternatives to picking up a book.

There are books on disks—audiobooks. Their applications for your computer can read the text so that you can hear the words lift off the pages and into your mind. Many people who, for whatever reason, never learned to read, or don’t read well, can return to school or special programs for remedial training.

After all, not all of us learn the same way. Some learn by practical experience, literally “hands-on” experience that helps us grow and learn. Some of us learn best by hearing; those who are visual learners watch programs or documentaries to gain knowledge.

Today, we can log on to our phone or computer and have almost any question answered on Google or YouTube. There are video lessons in how to bowl, how to play golf or the saxophone, even how to install a sprinkler system!

My point is simply this: when you stop learning, you start losing. While reading—books or eBooks or books on tape—is a great way to learn and grow, it’s not the only way. In fact, there is no excuse not to learn. Anyone embarrassed about your reading ability can easily find alternatives. I urge you to go for it. Until you take that step, Google it, YouTube it, audiobook it, whatever you prefer … but do it!

Thank you all who listen to the Conscious Call on WRES-100.7FM and visit the website www. theconsciouscall.com. Remember: you don’t have to be great to start something, but you do have to start to become great!

 


The Conscious Call radio program airs every Monday at 11:30 a.m. on WRES-FM 100.7. In a collaboration with the radio program, the Urban News will help keep readers informed about events, programs, news, and the progress of The Conscious Call. The opinions and statements made in this column are solely the opinions of the author and not necessarily those of the Urban News.