What Are You Reading?

I’m pleased to say that I just finished reading a powerful book. I’m ashamed to say that this is the first book I have completely read in about four years. Before I started my fitness journey, I read almost every night novel after novel. When the momentum of my fitness journey took off, I traded reading for writing. When I was writing my first book I was hesitant to read anything for fear of inadvertently taking someone else’s ideas. About four months ago I purchased a book from a fitness friend, and I added her book to my pile of other unread books. Over the past week I kept thinking of her and her subject, and I knew I needed to dive in. After reading the prologue I was hooked! This woman spoke to every area in my heart, and I raced to the phone to tell her so. In just a few days I completed “Healing Through Movement: Getting Back Up After a Broken Heart” by Dr. Crista Gambrell. It was a phenomenal experience that I can’t wait to share with everyone I know. Upon completion of her book I started looking at other books I let pile up on various tables around my living room. “The Dream Giver” by Bruce Wilkinson is one I started last year and never finished, but tonight I will restart and prayerfully finish soon. This will be in addition to reading “Mornings with Tozer” by A.W. Tozer, which is my daily devotional, and then onto “Wake Up Happy” by Michael Strahan. I can’t believe I left reading for so long, but isn’t that like some other healthy habits in my life? Prayer, devotional time, eating green vegetables. My life, dear readers! Life can bombard you, and you can find yourself checking out and neglecting to do the things that help you grow. I certainly have done that. In my motivational writing I often share the mantra that your growth depends on the people you meet and the books you read, but my reading list was nil for about four years. So in all the other tasks I’m tackling this year, reading has just been reintroduced and I’m excited about it.