Uncommon or Unusual words: PHOBIAS
JAMAICAN PROVERBS
Han' go, paki come. Di daakes' part a di night, Howdy an' tenk yu, Manners tek yu thru' Wha' noh poison, fatten. Hog say, di fus water It' better fi lose yu time Man noh dead, Alligator shouldn' call hog When water trow weh i' READINGWhy ImportantReading is an indispensable part of growing towards maturity in modem life. Persons who do not read limit themselves, and they have little advantage over an illiterate person. Reading widens and deepens the mind and the soul, it immeasurably adds to our learnings from experience or reflection. The habit of reading must be inculcated in children from a young age. Then they acquire an invaluable tool that will enable them to discover priceless treasures in life. II. The Value of Reading1. Learning the Wisdom of the Past Wisdom and maturity are often not learned from schools or from our elders or from our social environment. Our surroundings often but reflects the attitudes and traditions of the past, and hence we become prisoners of the past. Reading brings to our fingertips the wisdom of the ages, from all cultures and time. It is the most inexpensive way of learning about life, and the most efficient way of absorbing the accumulated learnings of the past. Every man who knows how to read has it in his power to magnify himself to multiply the ways in which he exists, to make his life full, significant and interesting. —Aldous Huxley 2. It prepares us better for our life work — No single teacher can teach us everything about our work, profession or life mission. Books are the best ways of improving ourselves in whatever life work we choose. 3. It brings joy and meaning — Reading opens up new worlds that bring joy, excitement, and meaning, which may not be possible in the environment which we find ourselves in. III. Developing the Habit of Reading WiselyIf you don’t have the habit of reading regularly, here are some suggestions: 1. Start with Light Reading — Such as the Reader’s Digest or even abridged editions of good books for children, such as Heidi. You can even start with some wholesome comic books, such as Casper, or those classic works in the form of comics. Allow your interest to be aroused naturally. 2. Read Regularly — Before bedtime, read even for ten minutes every night. This will grow to become a regular habit. 3. Discuss What You Read — Share with others the insights you have gained — with your husband, wife, children or friends. 4. Reflect on What You Read — Reading itself will be of limited value if we do not reflect on them. Think whether you agree or disagree with what you read, consider its implications, whether you should act on it or not, whether you can apply it in your life affairs. IV. Choosing Good BooksThere are millions of books in the world, and we have only very little time. Hence it is obvious that we must be very selective in choosing the books we will devote our time to. Our choice of titles will vary from person to person, but here is a suggested way of classifying them. 1. Books for General Knowledge. — This helps in acquiring liberal education, that is, a good general information about life and the universe. Young people should be exposed to wide knowledge, whether science, art, humanities, history, etc. This will give them a good background of human knowledge necessary for a mature and balanced life. Children’s books with questions and answers about various things are helpful. Even almanacs, Guinness Book of World Records, encyclopedias, are sources of general knowledge. 2. Specialized Knowledge — Each one of us have our specialized career that we must be good at. Here we must read as widely and keep updated. 3. Lire Wisdom — This is the category of books or reading materials that will help us live life wisely, that is, how to handle anger, worry, sorrow; how to improve interpersonal relationships; how to improve character. These are essential readings for everyone because these are vital learnings that are not taught in school. 4. Recreational — These are leisure readings, such as fiction, poetry, magazines, etc. Since most people have limited time for fiction, it is best to choose the best reading. Go through a list of books that have stood the test of time, and selected some of them for your recreational reading list. They are well-recommended not only because they are well written, but they have depth and message. Sensational literature can absorb us temporarily, but they are not always edifying. 5. Spiritual — There are individuals who appreciate the importance of the world beyond the day-to-day preoccupations in our lives. They are interested in the meaning of life, the transcendent, the destiny of mankind, the pursuit of true happiness, the existence of God, etc. To them we recommend the study of a class of writings that belong to many cultures and ages that touch on the essence of spirituality rather than mere religiosity. It has a wide range. examples of which are The Way of Perfection by Teresa of Avila. Mysticism by Evelyn Underhill. Perennial Philosophy by Aldous Huxley, The Ancient Wisdom by Annie Besant, the works of Thomas Merton, D. T. Suzuki on Zen, etc. Through these writings, we begin to better understand the essential teachings of the great religions of the world, and be able to distinguish between what is essential and what is not. It prevents religious superstition, narrowness and bigotry, and opens up a world of divine realization. V. Beware of Excessive and Useless ReadingWhile reading is an excellent habit, indiscriminate excessive reading can be a form of escape. H.P. Blavatsky once wrote that for every minute we spend reading, we must reflect ten times as much. Carlyle wrote that the end of life is not thought, but action. Read with a purpose. As much as possible, link what is learned to daily life, and explore the significance of what has been read. Avoid also useless reading. Some people spend more than an hour each day reading newspapers, including gossip columns, announcements of debuts, and other inconsequential items. Be clear as to what is important to know, and browse through the paper to find out if there is anything worth knowing for the day. Read them and skip the rest. This is true also for magazines and periodicals. VI Teaching Children the Habit of ReadingWhile it is possible to develop the habit of reading at any age, it is best to develop or acquire while we are young. Hence it is best that this habit be encouraged in the home. Here are some suggestions: 1. Parents should set the example — Children do what their parents do. If the parents are often seen to be reading, it is almost inevitable that the children will also acquire this habit. 2. Go the bookstore regularly and allow children to choose their own books as a gift from you. Young kids can start with picture books. Build your own home library. 3. Read with your young children if they still cannot do it by themselves. They will discover that within those pages are found wonderful adventures and interesting information that they will be motivated to want to read. These first impressions about the magic inside those pages will have a lasting effect on them. Make it fun, rather than a drudgery. 4. Discuss at dinner time about the things you or your children have read and learned from your readings. Help them realize the relevance or significance of these new learnings. Make a game out of general knowledge, such as "What is the tallest mountain in the world?" "What is the largest animal on earth?" etc. Children like to discuss these things, and they become motivated to read.
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You blink about 4,200,000 times a year.
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