When you were a kid, did you ever have that friend who kept their nose in a book? Perhaps they spent weekends at the library or they chose reading over recess. You remember that person.
Well, I must confess. I WAS that person—a true bookworm. There was nothing better than the smell of books, the pages between my fingertips, and the great escape each new book offered. Give me a stack of Judy Blume or Beverly Cleary books, and I’d be enraptured my entire summer vacation.
As I grew older and became busy with adulting– work, family and friend obligations– my commitment to read slowly faded. It wasn’t a lack of desire but more the realities of too many demands on my time. I stopped prioritizing reading. And if I made any attempt to pick up a book, I fell asleep within five minutes.
The summer of 2024 is upon us, and I am recommitting to reading. I am not going to make this another “to do” obligation. I’m simply going to pick up one of the books in my house that has been closed for way too long, and I’m going to begin. Maybe I’ll get through one book. Maybe a few. But the key is that I will at least get started.
How about you? Is there something your younger self loved doing that you’ve lost along the way? Why not use some of the down time that summer brings to reignite that passion?
Drop me a line to let me know what you’re going to reignite, and let’s hold each other accountable!
In the meantime, I have done some research and collected a few ideas from friends about which books should be on my work-related reading list. While these aren’t specific to nonprofit work, they are focused on leadership. Here’s a sneak peek of what’s on my list in case you want to join me:
- Dare to Lead by Brené Brown – Focuses on the importance of courageous leadership through vulnerability, empathy, and authenticity, providing actionable strategies to lead with heart.
- The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni – Explores the common pitfalls that hinder team effectiveness, offering practical solutions to build cohesive and high-performing teams.
- Orbiting the Giant Hairball by Gordon MacKenzie – Provides whimsical yet profound insights on maintaining creativity and individuality within corporate environments, encouraging readers to find a balance between conformity and innovation.
- Give and Take by Adam Grant – Examines how success is often driven by interactions, categorizing people as givers, takers, or matchers, and demonstrating how generosity can lead to greater personal and professional achievements.
- Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg – Presents a simple and effective framework for behavior change, emphasizing the power of small actions to create significant, lasting improvements in personal and professional life.
- How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer – Delves into the neuroscience of decision-making, combining research and real-world examples to explain how the brain processes choices and how we can make better decisions.
Hat Tip to Living, Loving, and Growing,
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