Part 1: Leaders are readers, in the home and business!
In the home:
I love to read! This is not a statement I could always make, or support through my actions, but is something I can currently claim as truth. My wife also loves to read, and to our immense pleasure, our children are embracing the passion and habit.
One of my favorite things we do as a family is read books together. My wife will read during our many long drives, and we’ll also pile the five of us into our bed and read together. It’s a twofer win, as I get to enjoy a great book and an even better snuggle!
We often choose entertaining fiction novels that deal with tough subjects to encourage thought and discussion, books from authors like Dusti Bowling and Louis Sachar. Our most recent was the latter’s book, “Holes.” Of note, we watched the movie after finishing the book, and we were overjoyed that all our kids said they preferred the book. There’s a lesson in that.
“Holes” not only entertained all of us, keeping us on the edge of our seats, and beds, but allowed a natural and safe space to talk about several very serious topics, mostly initiated by my children. We discussed faith, health, bullying, racism, inequality, literacy, the importance of staying hydrated, rattlesnake laced nail polish, body odor, wrongful imprisonment, and if the yellow spotted lizard is a real animal. These discussions were very comfortable and unforced, especially because they were presented in the context of a fictional novel.
Additionally, we all benefited from the creativity and storytelling ability of Louis Sachar. He is a wonderful author and was able to weave a story in an impressive, and artistic, manner.
As a side note, I believe every family should read “Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus,” by the previously mentioned Dusti Bowling. This book blessed our family and inspired deep and rich conversations.
Some big takeaways I’ve found for my life:
- When I’m not reading, I’m missing out!
- If I’m not reading fiction, I’m really missing out!
- Reading with family has exponential wins in addition to the act of reading, which has substantial benefits in and of itself. It fosters a rich environment for creativity, thought, and conversation. Most of the serious and difficult topics we’ve discussed would not have been broached if not for the books that inspired them. Most of these were initiated by my children due to the subject matter of the stories. This is HUGE!
So, what are you reading?
Written by David Gutierrez
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