I love to read. Currently I have about 40 books in the mix. I have so many for a number of reasons: I love variety (although the novels that I read tend to be considered ‘classics’ — I am currently reading Kafka’s ‘The Trial’ and Tolstoy’s ‘War and Peace’); I am often a ‘mood reader’ and so I have a number of books that I can open depending upon my mood; I am curious, so I have a number of books that feed my curiosity; I am a searcher and seeker and so I have a number of books available that enable me to go searching and seeking. As I read I pay attention to the words, images and questions that emerge into my consciousness, thus I am a ‘slow reader.’ I also like to make notes in many of the books I read and so having my own copy is important to me AND I love the feel of the book itself so electronic readers are not appealing to me.
As I read I also note and write down quotes that ‘speak to me.’ I write them in my little black book — thanks Moleskin; truly, I carry a little black book with me. I actually decided to do this when I was an undergraduate; I had watched my father take out his little black book and make notes and one of the things he noted were quotations that spoke to him (he was an avid reader). So, gentle reader, I thought I would share some of the quotes I have in my current little black book — I don’t know how many of these little books I have filled up and I also have some not so little journals full of quotations. Gentle reader you might find one or two of these speaking to you.
Your amicable words mean nothing if your body seems to be saying something different. –James Borg
The real labour is to remember, to attend. In fact, to come awake. Still more, to remain awake. –C.S. Lewis
How is it no one sees how deeply afraid we were, last night, this morning? Is it something we all hide from each other, by mutual consent? –Don DeLillo
How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. –Annie Dillard
The rain cloud of adversity is spreading over their heads. Calamity is showing itself. . .From left and right is coming the cry; ‘Who were you yesterday, and what have you become today! Just now you were awake, and now you have gone to sleep.!’ –Hali [1879, a Muslim Poet]
You are given three names in life. The one you inherit, the one your parents give you and the name you make for yourself. –Abraham Lincoln
Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves. — Carl Jung
I am not upset that you lied to me; I am upset that from now on I cannot believe you. –Friedrich Nietzche
And a final one (for today). It is attributed to Carl Jung and he is speaking to Bill W (one of the founders of AA): ‘You were reaching for spirit, you just reached for the wrong kind.’
What is the spirit that you and I will reach for today?
Searcher-Seeker 
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