Some people like amusement parks.  As for me, a library is like an amusement park.  Surrounded by a maze of books full of stories of fact, fiction, and more is a fun ride.  It’s like diving into a sea and being submerged into different worlds full of adventure.

At one time, I worked in a library.  Shelving books was my favorite task, because I discovered new books.  The ones I signed out were treasures to uncover.  I remember the day a book fell from the shelf right at my feet.  The author got my attention; she knew what I liked.  It was that day I got the pleasure of perusing the writings of Helen Steiner Rice.

Reading poems is enjoyable, but writing poems is more so.  When my sons were in school, I wrote a personalized poem for each of their teachers at the end of the year.  The best part was going into the classrooms and reading the poems aloud.  I then presented the framed poem to each teacher as a gift.  Seeing how the words I wrote touched their hearts was a gift to me.  Every teacher said no one had ever given them anything like thmaxeat.  It was unique.  I didn’t realize the impact my poems had on their lives.  They told me my poems are proudly hanging on their walls at home even today.  Recently, a friend of mine asked me to write a poem for her family member.  Again, it was a unique, personalized gift written with carefully woven words that spoke to her.  It gave me joy to know that gift brought happy tears to her family member.

I’ve heard you can tell what people like by noticing things in their homes.  In every room of my home you will see books, lots of books.  I read them and write them.  My son asked if I ever read one book at a time from start to finish.  I do finish, but am usually into more than one book at a time.  For me, it all fits perfectly.  It still makes me laugh when I remember my son asking, “Mom, are you reading the dictionary again?”  In addition to books, notebooks, journals, and pens are abundant in my home since I am writing every day. 

When it’s warm and sunny, I even take a book and notebook to read and write in my kayak.  I paddle out to my favorite spot on the creek and float while I soak in the sun.  There I commune with nature reading and writing more words that fill my soul and give me inspiration.

Speaking of inspiration, I will leave you with a poem by Helen Steiner Rice from her book, Someone Cares: 

Help Yourself to Happiness

Everybody, everywhere

Seeks happiness, it’s true

But finding it and keeping it

Seems difficult to do,

Difficult because we think

That happiness is found

Only in the places where

Wealth and fame abound.

And so we go on searching

In palaces of pleasure,

Seeking recognition

And monetary treasure,

Unaware that happiness

Is just a state of mind

Within the reach of everyone

Who takes time to be kind,

For in making others happy

We will be happy too,

For the happiness you give away

Returns to shine on you.

“