I was in a small bookstore this week looking for used books. The store had a musty smell with remnants of coffee and even cigarette smoke. It reminded me of Spook (Arden Skelton). He loved reading and his house was full to the brim of books. Each book held enough smoke to make the author in my mind’s eye have a raspy smoky voice.
Walking through the shop, there were newspaper clippings of historical events and famous writers who had obits. In the front of the store were the newer books that people seem to be reading now. Mostly fiction, stories about whatever written good nuff for the writer to get some fanfare.
I don’t read books like that. Maybe I should, I don’t know. It seems to me that fantasy is overtaking reality anyways. In the store was a sign near the dystopian books that read “Just because it feels close to real doesn’t mean you have to manifest it into reality.” I think they meant it as a bit of humor but we are certainly leaning in on opportunities for a dystopian outcome for humanity.
I want to tell you that I have been mad. I have been angry and upset. I have been confused as to what is going on in the world. I have been confused as to why it is happening. How could we get here? How could we have allowed ourselves to get here?
I went through a bunch of cycles in thinking. I went through a spectrum of emotions and frustration. I don’t watch television anymore and I started to disconnect from the news as well. What I have found is that less exposure and more ignorance is creating opportunities for me to read more of the things I’d like to read. I am choosing where to spend my time and energy. I am spending more time repairing things, cleaning, being creative and artistic.
I am less angry. I get frustrated about things that are much more personal to me vs things that are well out of my control. I am no longer in a perpetual state of “mad.” Instead, I am content.
Sure, gas is expensive, food is expensive, everything is expensive, but I couldn’t change that before I went to the pump. When I see the price, it spikes me for a moment and I move on.
Walking into the bookstore reminds me of the things we should be doing. We should be sharing books with each other. I mean physical books marked up and all. We should be experiencing the smells, tastes and experiences of the world. We should be out there as opposed to out there coming in here.
We should be able to disconnect and reconnect as we see the need. We should be able to focus on that which is important to us as opposed to every big issue on the planet.
I was mad & .. now I am not.
The hidden gems in an old bookstore may just be what the good ole doctor ordered!
Get out, find one and see.. let me know what book you are reading!