Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Wishcasting Wednesday: Reading

Today Jamie asks:


courtesy of We Heart It

I'm always reading.  It's one of my favorite things to do in the world.  It's one of the things I'm so grateful to both my parents for - the love of the written word and getting caught up in stories and lives that are not my own.  When I graduated from my Catholic School in eighth grade, I was named "Class Bookworm" and it was very fitting.  I've always felt more comfortable with my nose stuck in a book than almost anywhere else in the world, and it continues to surprise me when people tell me that they don't read.  What?  How is that possible? 

This week's question from Jamie automatically made me think of all the books on my to-read list, all the books I want to get too, but like laundry and dishes, as soon as you get through one pile, there is a whole new pile that's appeared.  Except books are much more fun than laundry or dishes.  And I like to read, whereas I'll put off the other two for as long as possible. 

However, when I thought about the question a little more, I realized, for me, this question has nothing to do with books at all.  I wish to be able to read myself better.  I want to be able to glance at myself in the mirror and see the person I am and the person I'm becoming.  I want to be able to know myself the way I know certain books like Pride and Prejudice and The Outsiders - by memory, so certain of what is in front of me without any doubts, with great affection.  I want to be able to read the words that I write on the page or in my blog and gain some perspective and better understanding of who I really am, rather than who I perceive myself to be (which is always a menacing, horrible person who deserves nothing). 

I wish to be able to read myself and know myself like the back of my hand, so that I can use those skills to learn to read other people better.  Because when you don't know yourself, don't care very much for yourself, you let a lot of negativity into your life.  You let a lot of people take advantage of you and make you feel bad because you want to be liked and, when you're honest with yourself, you think it's what you deserve.  I want to be able to spot these people for the soul-suckers they can be and learn to walk away.

It's funny.  I thought this would be such a simple question, but as usual, this prompt has taken me somewhere unexpected it.  I'm grateful for that.

18 comments:

Dionne the Tea Priestess said...

So similar to my wish! As you wish for yourself so I wish for you as well!

Yvonne said...

Very beautiful wish! As you wish for yourself, so I wish for you also!

Unknown said...

I congratulate you for how you responded to this wish. It is really important to know yourself and to celebrate the real you.
As Mare wishes for herself, I wish for her as well.

Ceanne said...

Wow!! You sure gave me an "aha" moment here! I was all ready to talk about when you said "like laundry and dishes, as soon as you get through one pile, there is a whole new pile that's appeared" and how much I agree; when you talked about "reading yourself".

I think you may have hit the nail right on the head with me! Thank you!

As you wish for yourself, I truly wish for you (and me)!!!

Anonymous said...

As you wish for yourself, so do I wish for you as well!

aprilmariecole.blogspot.com said...

Love it!!! Great wish... I do love to smell books too :]
As you wish for yourself, I wish for you as well.

DonnaOnTheBeach said...

Wow. What a fabulous wish. Isn't it funny how we start with one layer, and then underneath is this incredible depth. Gives me the shivers. As you wish for yourself, i wholeheartedly wish for you also. May you see the beauty and genius and worthiness that resides within every moment of every day. xxxx

erinrichardson said...

As you wish for yourself, so do I wish for you as well.

Gayle said...

beautiful and inspiring ... i read the energy of everyone else BT myself most of the time. a very well timed reminder, mare <3 G!

As you wish for yourself, so do I wish for you as well.

Kim Switzer said...

As you wish for yourself, so I wish for you as well.

Amy said...

As you wish so I wish for you!

Sandra Marie said...

Read yourself...what a lovely, lovely wish!! As you wish for yourself, so I wish for you!

Anonymous said...

oh how I love this. As you wish for yourself, I wish for you too.

Paula - Buenos Aires said...

Cool take on the wish.
As Mare wishes for herself, so I wish for her also.

Her Speak said...

Beautiful insight! As Mare wishes for herself, so I wish for her also. :)

Much Joy~*
Molly

Genie Sea said...

You're so right! It's very important to know yourself like a book and open it up to the world so that others may know you and you may know others. A beautiful wish!

As you wish for yourself, so do I wish for you!

Keepapi Creative said...

As you wish for yourself, I wish for you also. Jacs x

Karen D said...

love your perspective on this wish, as you wish for yourself, I am wishing for you also.
Wow the Outsiders brings back some memories ...