Graduation parties amaze me. Usually, the happy graduate declares they have finished their education. A wise man once stated successfully completing your schooling only proves you can be taught. He further said graduating was the initiation into the real world of meaningful learning.

That wisdom has proved true. High school and college only scratch the surface. Life is a brutal taskmaster, sending insurmountable obstacles, pitching us into harsh conditions and demanding that we adapt, change and overcome. If we paid attention in class, we gained the basic skills to meet the world head-on. It remains for the novice to apply the basics and learn more than we ever thought possible.

What will you learn today?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Entering a library reminds me of walking into a sacred space. Hushed silence, the sight of leather-bound ancient tomes, and the heady aroma convey an aura of wisdom and knowledge waiting for rediscovery. Rows of shelves tower high overhead. Each shelf overflows with volumes holding countless thoughts, dreams and personal revelations of a multitude of humans. They may have lived decades or hundreds of years ago. Opening a book allows me to experience a part of their lives.

The library gives me the impression I am standing on the shoulders of giants. I gather my research materials, spread them on the table and set to work. Hours pass in the blink of an eye. Not everything is online, and you can’t investigate historical details in a bookstore. Thankfully, my library has added a coffee shop.

Do you spend time in your library?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Owning books is a joy. I appreciate seeing my dear friends staring at me from their homes on my bookshelves. I relish running my hand across their spins and visualizing the words, worlds, and adventures we experienced together. These are my true companions and I am determined we will never part company. I enjoy reading eBooks and listening to audiobooks, but they can’t compete with the tactile aspects of a real, hardcover book.

I am lucky so many purchased volumes populate my bookshelves, but I also exercise my library membership. It is not unusual for me to have five or six on loan at any point. It comforts me to know that money is not a barrier or an excuse for not reading different genres. The library is a great resource for indulging without making a financial commitment. I am more likely to purchase a book I have borrowed and read from the library so it can find a home on my shelves. These copies I recommend to friends or lend to family members.

Do you supplement your purchased books with library books?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Weekends are for catching up on laundry, cleaning the floors, grocery shopping, running errands, cutting the grass, and washing the dishes. These projects keep me moving, my hands are busy, and oxygen floods through my bloodstream. Our brains depend on the stuff more than any other part of the body. Oxygenation blood fuels our neurons, and studies suggest that blasts of oxygen can help improve cognitive functions.

Besides, simple tasks occupy the critic that stifles our shy creative side. While it is busy it leaves us free to contemplate grand plans and conjure amazing stories. My notebooks bear grass stains, water droplets, and spaghetti sauce splatters that attest to the dire need to record and capture those ideas before they disappear into the ether. The by-product is a clean house.

Where do your best ideas originate?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

I loathe having nothing constructive to do. Being productive, with nice neat lines of items to complete listed on my personal agenda is much nicer. I get a rush when I can cross them off, call them done and move forward. Time wasters include standing in line, driving in traffic or having to re-working projects because of miscommunication. They top my list of anger-inducing ineffective misuses of my life. I strive to avoid those situations. Where possible, I order online, shop during off-peak hours, align my route to combine errands, and document and ask extensive questions when beginning group activities.

Coworkers have admonished me to slow my pace, so they didn’t need to work harder. Managers have accused me of cheating or lying as no one could do the task in such a short timeframe. To keep a project on track, I sometimes resort to completing assignments delegated to specific team members. It doesn’t bother me much because it beats staring at the clock and waiting for the minutes to pass.

How do you handle unproductive time?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer