Have you ever taken on a challenge that was pretty big? Have you ever felt the changes you go through as your taking on a challenge? The mental changes, the emotional changes, the spiritual changes, even the physical changes? As I pursue several challenges currently, I feel more alive than ever before. I can feel changes going on in all four of the areas I listed above. I see my understanding growing and developing. I am more aware of and feel like I am more in control of my emotions. I can feel my spirit bubbling up with excitement. I even feel a confidence so strong that I feel like I walk taller. I don't write this to say look at me. I write this to encourage you to take on a challenge that by just being in the hunt makes you feel alive. Pursuing it boosts your confidence.
The challenge I want to present to some of you is to simply pick up a book and read. For the rest of you it is to read more. I am challenging myself to read 52 books this year on top of the Bible. Maybe your not ready for a challenge that steep. Maybe for you it is to read 5 books this year, or even just one book. I found some stats that were pretty alarming to me (it also helped me realize why our country might be heading down the path it is currently). I was one of these stats until recently, so don't beat yourself up if you are too.
- 1/3 of high school graduates never read another book for the rest of their lives.
- 42 percent of college graduates never read another book after college.
- 80 percent of U.S. families did not buy or read a book last year.
- 70 percent of U.S. adults have not been in a bookstore in the last five years.
- 57 percent of new books are not read to completion.
- (Source: Jerold Jenkins, www.JenkinsGroupInc.com)
Let me know if you accept my challenge (or let me know what you have set for yourself this year). Write me a note in the comment section letting me know what you are choosing for your personal challenge. I look forward to reading your challenges. God bless!
I'm in for 52 books. You may even have challenged me to create a page like yours!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that, Jeremy! Good luck on your reading. I would love to see a page like that on your blog. I love seeing what people are reading.
ReplyDeleteNot sure I can do 52, but I am ready to read as many as possible. I read 25 last year so I should be able to. I also have set the goal to have a rough draft of my novel done by my birthday, July 7th. Good luck on your goals.
ReplyDeleteLearninginmy30s, I read on a blog that if you read books that are around 200-300 pages long that you would have to read about 40 page per day to read them in a week. It is a very doable goal, especially if you count "L" time and things of that nature. Good luck on finishing the rough draft by your birthday. I will check in with you on that one also.
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