For as long as I can remember, I’ve been an avid reader. Love, love. LOVE a good book. Last year I found my reading slacking off in a major decline. I didn’t buy any fewer books (*sigh*)….I just read fewer.

::::looking at huge pile of books from corner of my eye::::

I’m in the process of clearing space in my life, making room for what I want, what I enjoy and reading would be among those things. So, as I work through all the ‘stuff” in my house, I’m sorting through a veritable sea of books. I’ve been rounding up all those books that are lying around the house and sorting them accordingly.

The “tried-and-true” books that I absolutely love and would never part with. You know the ones you TELL people about but you don’t LEND to anyone. LOL

The books I want to read (my “TBRL”pile…”to be read later”).

The books that aren’t mine (trust me – that’s not even enough to constitute a pile. LOL).

The books that I own but for the life of me cannot figure out why – they aren’t really my thing. *shrug*

Can I tell you something? My “TBRL” pile is HUGE. And just grew by the addition of 4 more books Saturday (Psst….Q? Thanks for the bday gift!!). The “TBRL” is a mix of “Dang! You just getting around to reading that?” to “OOO! Hot off the presses!” and includes fiction and non-fiction (personal development, business, personal finance, health, POETRY, spiritual, history…you name it).

I’d say my reading slump is well on its way to being over…yep, OVA. I’ve already devoured three books this month and am working my way through a few more as we speak. Whoo-hoo!

So far I’ve knocked out the following:

1. “One in a Million” (Kimberla Lawson Roby) – quick easy read

2. “The Million Dollar Divorce” (RM Johnson) – an “older” book but I won the sequel in a contest so I wanted to read this book before cracking the spine of part two

3. “Been There, Seen It All” (Pearl Cleage) – what can I say? I absolutely LOVE Pearl Cleage’s work. She is one of those writers who make me curl up with a book in one hand and pen/paper/highlighter in the other as I always find myself amazed as how she strings words/phrases together. She is among a few others who, when I hear they have a new release, I don’t even search for information beyond publication date. LOL Yeah, it’s THAT serious.

Right now, I’m wading through “The Million Dollar Redemption” (RM Johnson), “Come on People” (Bill Cosby/Alvin Pouissant), “The One-Minute Coach” (Masha Milka) and “Outliers” (Malcolm Gladwell). Yes, I can read more than one book at a time. No, I don’t usually blend this many at one time. LOL Actually, “Outliers” will probably go back into the “TBRL” pile – I’m just not that into it at the moment.

Feels good to immerse myself in the pages of a really good book again. To curl up on the sofa with a cup of tea and lose myself in characters that almost walk off the page. To find truths about myself or ways to move forward in my life inside the pages of non-fiction offerings.

Hmmm….now that I think about it, I did challenge myself to read at least one book/month as we move into 2009. I’d say I’m well on my way.

So, what’s on YOUR nightstand? What’s in YOUR “TBRL” pile? I’m always open for recommendations and read almost every genre (not big on Sci-fi but…I have two writer friends who challenge that notion). Now if I can just bring myself to utilize the library more instead of BUYING books, we might really be on to something.

(Oops! Almost forgot…I’m rereading my friend Princess Dominique’s non-fiction book, “The Plural Thing”. A chapter a month for an ongoing online discussion where else? At The Plural Thing. (Shhhh! I know - to be part of the actual discussion, I hafta post. I’ma get around to it…um…in a minute.)

At her 5th grade graduation ceremony, one of Princess So Fabulous’ teachers read a portion of a poem written by Maria Shriver in her book “Just Who Will You Be?”. I can’t say I paid much attention to it. Not then.

Earlier this week, I received a newsletter that referenced Shriver’s book and this excerpt:

“I’ve learned that asking ourselves not just what we want to be, but who we want to be is important at every stage of our lives, not just when we’re starting out in the world. That’s because in a way, we’re starting out fresh in the world every single day.”

Shriver goes on to say “I will feel my way into who I am becoming.”

Shriver’s book is short - 112 pages to be exact. And I can’t say that it’s necessarily anything new, earth-shattering, or ground-breaking.

What I can say is this: I was fully open to hearing her words (’the same old same old’) in a new way.
I’m at a place in my life where I am willing and able to simply listen differently. That was the key for me.

What brought this to mind?

Tuesday, after speaking at the 37th Anniversary celebration for the Cavalier Chapter of ABWA, I was wired. W-I-R-E-D. Excited. Enthused and ready to talk some more. LOL

It wasn’t so much the feedback that I received from people — although I must admit, confirmation from them that my words resonated was good. It was the fact that I was in MY zone - operating fully from two of my core passions: WORDS (reading them, writing them, speaking them…I stopped short of “singing them”. LOL) and sharing/encouraging others.

Friday, while at work, I was so drained. Tired. At the point where I’ve had more than enough. In pain and ready to ‘get off my nail’. I was so done that every little thing — and I do mean EVERY.LITTLE.THING — pushed me closer and closer to the edge until I found myself clenching my jaw, felt the tightness in my shoulders. I wanted to scream. Literally.

As I was driving home, this loose thought came to sit on my shoulder…light as a butterfly but packing one heck of a punch to my spirit: “There are 1001 worlds of difference between the person you were on Tuesday after that speech and the person you are right now after a single day at this job.”

And there was. And it was very clear. One energized me to no end…the other drained me completely. One had me working from purpose, filled with passion. The other seemed to have no true purpose (outside of claiming a paycheck - and there’s nothing wrong with that…BUT…if there’s a way to merge the two…get paid for purpose/passion…that’s the job I want, the one for which my spirit wants to apply).

Shriver’s book ends with a list of “Ten Things I Pledge to Myself”. Things that she pledges to do/be in order to stay focused and centered on who she wants to be. It includes things like showing up as herself, using her voice to help others, finding quite time, creating a mission statement for her life. She then encourages readers to write their own pledge….but to do so in pencil because we’re all works in progress.

I don’t think there are really any accidents in life. I don’t. I think every single moment in our lives — good, bad, indifferent — serves a purpose. Hearing a portion of Shriver’s poem was no accident. Neither was receiving and/or reading the newsletter that included her excerpt. Neither was actually picking up her book.

It’s just another chapter in the evolution of me.

To your evolution…and to the person YOU will be,
*~* MsJayy *~*

Terry McMillian was recently awarded the Lifetime Achievement award during Essence Magazine’s first annual ESSENCE Literary Awards. Fitting in that McMillian was the first winner of Essence’s college writing contest in 1974. Interesting in that McMillian has only written six novels.

While we all know about “Waiting to Exhale”, “How Stella Got Her Groove Back” and for some of us, “Mama”, and “Disappearing Acts”, this next book is sure to garner MUCH interest.

Why? Because…it revisits the ladies of “Waiting to Exhale” 15 years later.

Yep, we get to catch up with Bernadine, Robin, Gloria, and Savannah.

So…tell me…what cha think? Excited? Can’t wait to crack the spine of this book? Gonna pass on it? Need to read an excerpt before you decide?

More importantly, what cha’ll think the ladies have been up to in the last 15 years?

I’m gonna keep my thoughts to myself.

I certainly hope they’ve stopped “Waiting to Exhale” - ya’ll know my mantra: “BREATHE”. LOL

Waiting to Read this Book,
*~* MsJayy *~*