If you can read.......

Every once in a while I stop doing the everyday mundane things and take time to reflect on life. Scary, I know, but it needs to be done. This past week I've been thinking about the best advice I ever got. I think I heard someone on a TV show ask that question. It was probably to a TV/movie star and I'm guessing the answer was something about becoming a star but, to be honest, I don't remember. I just remember the question. The best advice.......

Actually, the question is pretty easy. My Dad gave me the best advice and I always tried to remember it -

If you can read, you can do anything.

Sounds simple but really, think about it. Almost everything I do or have become is because of reading. Most of my quilting, knitting, cooking, opinions of the world, what I do at my job, most everything is because of reading.

Reading has changed lately with the new technology. I have about 20-30 books on my iPad with the Kindle app right now. I head to the library website and find ebooks and audio books to borrow for 3 weeks. I listen to audio books during my drive to and from work; I read ebooks at lunch. I get a lot of reading in but its light reading.

Learning to do new things? I read quick and easy things on the internet. Find that quick answer by searching the web. I can tell you the real name of a gopher, if you give me a second with my computer. I tell tell you all sorts of things but - with the computer. I've gotten lazy in learning new things.

So, here's the deal. Dad is right - if you can read, you can do anything. But I need to add one other thing to that.

If you can read, you can do anything. If you do what you read, you will become more.

This week I started cutting out a new quilt. It would have been easy to just do it the same way I always had but I took a little time to carefully read the directions the designer created. I read from other designers and I found a better way to make it. I read and then I did what I read. Now I'll be a better quilter.

Small steps but I'll take Dad's advice and remember If I can read I can do anything. Next step, pass on that love of reading to someone else. Time to check into volunteering at the library or somewhere else to help other people learn from my Dad's advice.