Seattle and literacy

Seattle, Washington is listed as number two in the United States on literacy.  I thought this was pretty impressive.  Number 1 is Washington D.C.  The way the results are compiled is through analysis of bookstores, libraries, how many books are checked out, etc.,
But here's what I know as a full time working, bus riding current resident of Seattle.
Seattle is also one of the most highly congested cities in the U.S., and many people choose to ride the bus.  The bus system, however wonderful, still takes time.
I spend a couple hours on the bus each day that I work, and some of that time is also spent waiting for the bus... where I read too. 
I have come to absolutely love this part of my life.  I carry my backpack and it's always filled with a book.  I like that I can read on the go.  Reading relaxes me, stimulates my brain, and has the potential to put me in an ecstatic mood.  Honestly.  Books have completely transformed my days.  I've been enlightened and it's made me positively giddy.

Recently I've read a self help style book by Dr. Keith Ablow and an inspirational book by Dolly Parton.  Both were great.  From Ablow's book, I was reminded how valuable our God given intuition is to our lives and how wonderfully God leads and puts things in front of us.  So much of life is having open eyes to see and not dismiss.  But the biggest thing I took away from the book was that bitterness is caused by holding onto something for too long, and compassion gives us enormous strength.  Am I naturally a compassionate person? I used to think so, but I've noticed lately I haven't been as compassionate as I could be.  Having a compassionate heart changes everything, and I want my life to be changed and shaped by such love and understanding.  Even the toughest situations when dug a little deeper, there is a story and there is a river of feelings.  God spoke something to my heart a few weeks ago, and I felt the greatest thing that I could pray to have would be a tender heart.  That's my greatest longing.  I don't want my heart to grow cold.  I don't want to look at people with judgment but I want to be able to see the hurts and fears beneath and give compassion. 

Dolly Parton is always an inspiration to me! She encouraged me to DREAM BIG, and this is another reoccurring theme in my life right now.  DREAM MORE.  LEARN MORE.  BE MORE.  CARE MORE.  I want to open wide the shutters on my heart and dream big! Dream beyond the skies!

I went to the library today and couldn't find any of the specific books I was looking for, so I bought a cheap novel at the thrift store... forty five cents! What a deal.  It is a novel by Jodi Picoult called Keeping Faith.  I keep seeing this author's name thrown about, so I decided it was time to give her a try.  And I'm feeling like it's novel time...

Here's to great reading, relaxing the mind and being inspired.

Love, K