Aldous Huxley wrote the book, “Brave New World.”
1931. Dystopian writing and story.
I read it a long time ago…
I’m starting it again. Soon.
Why? I’m aging but I’m not slowing down.
Maybe something that has stood the test of time will speak to me.
Possibly it’s from the millions of words and thousands of books I’ve read in my lifetime.
And, perhaps, it’s from hitting the next decade of life and feeling the years of activity in my bones.
Hence, I’ve narrowed my focus.
Words are most important to me.
Not just any words.
Well-written words that makes me stop. Think. Analyze. Research.
Rabbit trails of thoughts galore.
Long sunset of sentences that take me far into the future.
Once a focus is garnered, then lasered forward I go, Ho!
It’s analyzed by those who purport to know.
We’re changing.
No longer are we entertained by a great story we read,
Or pulling out words to write a long tome by hand,
We’re not interested in sharing by the campfire,
Or alongside a good night bedtime story.
We want entertainment. Quickly.
And more quickly, we move on to the next reel.
“Closed” Captions have changed me.
If they are on the screen, I’m focusing on reading the words
While listening to the sounds.
It may be a hearing issue
But I suspect not.
It’s my heart hungry for good words.
Words that make me hit “pause.”
Pause… Consider what you see and hear.
Does it connect?
Do they mean anythng?
Will I be better for the reading?
In the olden days, I called it continuity director…
Based on a story I read, behind every second of life
(Take that to mean every word I read)
Someone is responsible to ensure the words flow
With meaning, direction, and nothing is left out.
Continuity Director.…one who ensures visual and narrative consistency throughout a project,
meticulously tracking details like costumes, props, and actor movements
to prevent continuity errors…
Today, I just call it better insight to words that make me think!
Words that flow and sound “just right…”
The connection of thoughts that move paragraphs from page to page.
The flow of a rhyme, prose, or even history!
A few years ago I found an Instgram account focusing on Folk Songs from the ’50s
And the decades preceding and succeeding, of course.
Though my birth decade, you sure don’t want to leave any good words on the roadside!
Some of the songs we sang from the back seat of the car on trips to wherever.
“Lord, I’m one. Lord, I’m two. Lord, I’m three. Lord I’m four.
Lord, I’m five hundred miles away from home.”
As I rehear them with aging ears, I realize how powerful they were.
More than the tricky sounds of fast moving instruments and vocals,
More depth than so many modern 7/11 songs (same 7 words 11 times).
These folk songs were there to consider life, the experience and memories,
And develop a moral or theme that others can connect with.
These days? I’m reconnecting.
That’s my new world.
John Lennon wrote and the Beatles sang, “In My Life,”
But I hear Judy Collins voice in my mind.
Clarity. Simple. Just her and a guitar.
Strumming softly in the background.
Haunting voice and lyrics.
They give me pause.
There are places I remember
All my life, though some have changed
Some forever, not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places had their moments
With lovers and friends, I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life, I’ve loved them all
Though I know I’ll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I’ll often stop and think about them
In my life, I love you more
As I read old and new tomes,
I’m still futuristic enough to do it electronically.
I can highlight, copy and paste, share or take notes.
Connected to a dictionary and database,
I can research, ask and answer questions.
I no longer read for speed,
I read for context and content.
Results matter.
Poetry is not my thing. Prose is.
Ordinary words, but they prick my mind with deep thoughts.
Regardless, I found a poet that writes in prose…and poetry.
That last line… “If we bring the kindness instead.”
And if God is connecting my thoughts,
And I think He is…
Then what I shared yesterday is linking within my new world.
Content and Context matters.
Our brains have a larger capacity to store
The hurts and heartaches, but also the joys and laughter.
It’s perspective. Attitude. Choosing what is most important.
These will be what you recall.
As you age into your end.
There are authors I thoroughly enjoy.
But what they write and what I read impacts every single cell of my DNA.
That’s why I’m making better choices.
I want words, songs, melodies, and yes, even videos,
That will improve me
Not drag me down to their level
But to lift me up to a higher place.
Consume for understanding and enlightenment.
I find scripture better read when I post it the way it seems to be said.
Since few study original language versions,
We all choose the English level we value.
If you don’t look at both testaments for connection,
Then you often miss the power of generational fortelling and fullfilment.
Think about the story of the Bible.
In our way of reading, everything becomes verse, chapter and book.
We’ve inserted punctuation and captilization
That did not exist in original languages.
I can trust well-intentioned translators and printers,
But I know better than to only study the “one.”
Don’t limit yourself to a verse – read the before and after.
Don’t limit yourself to a chapter – “ditto.”
Seldom is a book standalone – the engrafted Word of God
Completely tells from our past to our future.
Don’t Limit Yourself!
You don’t want to limit yourself, unless the words are destructive.
Too many of us are easily led astray with words that create confusion and doubt.
I’m not a scientists. Nor a philosopher.
I’m far from interested in politics or entertainment.
And sports has out-valued the sand-lot joy of my youth.
So. I do limit myself.
Keep the words focused to growth.
My net worth grows syllable by syllable.
I makes me pause. Again.
What would I be today if I had done this younger in m life/
I cannot say.
But from now forward?
I have a new world.
Thank you for reading.
Please share with others.
It helps me get my book written!
(Below, you may find other topics similar to this one. Please read on!)