Ahhh, now were getting somewhere.

Right now my biggest problem is sub-vocalization. I have no idea how I’m going to break that habit. Sub-vocalizing is a habit I deliberately started in middle school. Like most children I felt self-conscious when called to read out loud by the teachers. So I started practicing by reading “out loud” in my head, all the time. I’ve been doing this for about, 20 years now. I don’t remember how to comprehend what I’m reading without it. It is possible because when I was in first grade my reading comprehension was considered quite high for my age (a sixth grade level). I just can’t remember how I did it.

I’d recommend this book to anyone having a mid life crisis or anyone who is trying to find themselves. My only complaint is I fear younger or more sensitive readers my get the wrong idea about how to view road blocks in their lives.

Specifically, I’m referring to how often he speaks of knowing your limits. He says sometimes when we “fail” or doors are closed to us (or are slammed in our face) its God way of guiding us to the right path. Especially when you’re completely determined to take a path that is not yours to take. He says this in the book, many times and in many ways.

Only one time does he mention that sometimes its not God just some jerk trying to bring you down. Of course, he put it more eloquently than that. He said:

It is important to distinguish between two kinds of limitations: those that come with self-hood and those that are imposed by people or political forces hell-bent on keeping us “in our place”. I do not ask anyone who gets fired to conclude that it was the work of a gracious God offering clues to ones vocation. Sometimes it is the work of a pathological boss or a corporate culture, getting rid of people whose propensity for truth-telling threatens the status quo. Sometimes it is the result of an economic system that robs the poor of there jobs so that the rich can get richer still. Like everything else in the spiritual life, getting guidance from way closing requires thoughtful discernment.

This paragraph is on page 42. This is a very important point, he’s discussing here. I really wish it appeared much earlier in the book. Preferably as soon as he started talking about excepting one’s limits and way closing. That is the only thing I’d change. Everything else is gold.

And speaking of discernment, a couple of years ago, I heard a great sermon on this very subject. I thought of it when I first read that paragraph. The preacher said,”Sometime God will, not cause, but allow things to happen in your life, in order to Divinely push you in the direction you need to go.” I can say from experience this is true. Sometimes you’re supposed to go. Sometimes you’re supposed to stay and fight. And sometimes you’re supposed to just be still. Myself, am still learning when to do what. I guess its a life long lesson. Go ahead, everyone read it. I’m sure discernment will come.

Chapter One

This I can’t stand. Thankfully this book only spends 5 pages telling me why I should read the book. Unfortunately those 5 pages are sandwiched in between two useful parts of the chapter. So, I was afraid to skip over anything.

But again, the name of the book is Speed Reading. If I took the book off the shelf, I probably already know why I want to read it. I shouldn’t have to read a five page commercial.

Anyway, they say my reading speed is average. well slightly above average- but only slightly. Two years ago it was below average so that an improvement.

My laptop has been acting funny ever since I installed it.

..because it tells the truth. Its here in my two favorite lines of the book:

You will make mistakes and you will look stupid. That is part of the process.

True.

Flipping through it in the book store a few things jumped out at me:

1) When you give (from the heart) expecting something in return then you are trying to give something you never really possessed.
This was a huge wake up call for me. It also relieved a lot of guilt I feel about saying “no” sometimes.

2) Each person is born who they are. They are born with a personality and there own gifts. We lose touch with our true selves as we grow up; trying to be who we and others think we should be. Then spend the 1/4 to 1/2 of our lives trying to “find ourselves”.

So, I figure if I got that much out of it just flipping through; imagine what could come out of reading the whole thing

There was a scene I found a bit disturbing for a family film; especially a Disney family film. Other than that it was ok, even cute at times.

Pretty Good. Although there were some parts that made me uncomfortable, like saying we are all gods, I think its a good read. There’s alot of great advice in here and some bad advice. My advice? Take from it what you’re comfortable with.

This book about courage, took me 15 minutes to read. (I read it on my coffee break at work.) While reading it, it reminded me of the long talks I’d have with my grandmother, growing up. She always knew the perfect things to say. How to make you feel like everything would be ok. That’s what this book does.

A must read for young and old alike. Lots of nuggets of wisdom, that speak to the heart.

Four stars because although the story drags a bit, it does makes you think. I’ve watch it twice trying to figure out a few questions. (see entry below)

Watching, I was getting the feeling I’d get in my English Lit classes when trying to figure themes and symbolism; but I like that sort of thing.

The casting was… I think this was a difficult movie to cast. Towards the end Matt Damon looks more like the big brother than the father. I think Jared Leto would have been a better choice. Clean shaven he looks like a kid but put a beard on him he ages 15 years. Angelina Jolie has far to strong presence to play that character. The woman who played Laura would have been the perfect choice for the role of the wife. Yes, those two should have swapped roles.