"I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."
Robert Frost
As a very young child I realized that I related to poetry. Reading it, writing it, learning from it always made me think about things I might never have touched upon. One of my favorite poets, Robert Frost, seemed to know so much about how I felt about the world. "The Road Not Taken" kept me thinking for years. Was he happy with his choice? It seems he was, but then again in it he writes..."I shall be telling this with a SIGH!" Hmmm...a regretful sigh or a sigh of contentment? One day I realized that nothing says that I can't change paths and meander down another road, and then another.
I have always believed that change helps keep us vital. I certainly didn't want to change my husband or children, so I decided to experiment a bit career wise. In my twenties I needed freedom to be with my children when they needed me. I became a book reviewer and a public speaker, and the challenge of standing in front of auditoriums crowded with people kept my blood flowing. In my thirties I decided to try the business world and became public relations director for a non profit organization. Unlike Deborah Rodriquez in her memoir Margarita Wednesdays: Making a New Life by the Mexican Sea, I never had to leave a career because of someone else's desires or a fear for safety, but facing up to one's own shortcomings can be disheartening. It took about a year for me to admit that smoke filled meeting rooms and expense account lunches did not make me happy.
Teaching young people to enjoy the beauty of the written word was what I knew would make me happy. Of course my degree was in education, speech and drama, so I needed to quickly add English to my certificate. I never tired of teaching high school English, but after ten years I somehow felt another need for change. I formed and coached a debate team for ten very happy years and was surrounded with bright young people who each and every day showed me that we have nothing to worry about in generations to come. Once again, however, I felt it was time for a change.
That brings me to Madderly Review and my latest experience. I love reading and writing and decided to put it together and see what happens. I have been in contact with some amazing people through this adventure. I have met authors who are even more interesting than their characters, reviewers who love books as much as I do and readers who keep me on my toes. I have also started reading books that I never would have read before and find I really enjoy them. David Ellis is one of those authors who piqued my interest, and I usually read his books. This being said, the subject matter of Wet & Wild would have turned me away. A ten year old pet store assistant and a bunch of super powered animals aren't my usual go to characters. Luckily, the new me gave it a try and found it interesting and fun to read.
My suggestion for the week is to change it up a bit. If a new job is not in your future, try a new genre in reading. Who knows, you might find a whole new library section to call your own.
Happy Reading,
- Beverly
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."
Robert Frost
As a very young child I realized that I related to poetry. Reading it, writing it, learning from it always made me think about things I might never have touched upon. One of my favorite poets, Robert Frost, seemed to know so much about how I felt about the world. "The Road Not Taken" kept me thinking for years. Was he happy with his choice? It seems he was, but then again in it he writes..."I shall be telling this with a SIGH!" Hmmm...a regretful sigh or a sigh of contentment? One day I realized that nothing says that I can't change paths and meander down another road, and then another.
I have always believed that change helps keep us vital. I certainly didn't want to change my husband or children, so I decided to experiment a bit career wise. In my twenties I needed freedom to be with my children when they needed me. I became a book reviewer and a public speaker, and the challenge of standing in front of auditoriums crowded with people kept my blood flowing. In my thirties I decided to try the business world and became public relations director for a non profit organization. Unlike Deborah Rodriquez in her memoir Margarita Wednesdays: Making a New Life by the Mexican Sea, I never had to leave a career because of someone else's desires or a fear for safety, but facing up to one's own shortcomings can be disheartening. It took about a year for me to admit that smoke filled meeting rooms and expense account lunches did not make me happy.
Teaching young people to enjoy the beauty of the written word was what I knew would make me happy. Of course my degree was in education, speech and drama, so I needed to quickly add English to my certificate. I never tired of teaching high school English, but after ten years I somehow felt another need for change. I formed and coached a debate team for ten very happy years and was surrounded with bright young people who each and every day showed me that we have nothing to worry about in generations to come. Once again, however, I felt it was time for a change.
That brings me to Madderly Review and my latest experience. I love reading and writing and decided to put it together and see what happens. I have been in contact with some amazing people through this adventure. I have met authors who are even more interesting than their characters, reviewers who love books as much as I do and readers who keep me on my toes. I have also started reading books that I never would have read before and find I really enjoy them. David Ellis is one of those authors who piqued my interest, and I usually read his books. This being said, the subject matter of Wet & Wild would have turned me away. A ten year old pet store assistant and a bunch of super powered animals aren't my usual go to characters. Luckily, the new me gave it a try and found it interesting and fun to read.
My suggestion for the week is to change it up a bit. If a new job is not in your future, try a new genre in reading. Who knows, you might find a whole new library section to call your own.
Happy Reading,
- Beverly
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