Love As A Way of Life

There's a new book out I really want to buy, by Gary Chapman, Love As A Way of Life. It's all about being loving in every facet of your life, your world. I think that all of our true nature is love, and the more and more we embody that love toward the world, the happier we will be. So this sounds like a great supplement to my process of trying to be more loving. :) Just thought I'd share in case anyone else liked the sound of it. :)

Little Librarian To-Be?

So I've been volunteering in the youth section of the public library here, and I think I've found volunteering nirvana. The books, the young minds filling their heads with piles of stories and new ideas, the books, the books, mmm.... :)

I sit at the "Summer Reading" Program desk, and help the kids that come up, or tell them about it, and add some general cheer to the place with my perky self. While I wait to turn on all this helpful charm, I have recently been trusted with some extra tasks!

Last week I got to sort a cart of books- young adult books- for the first time, and let me tell you, that is some fun stuff! :) And then this week I "processed" books- which means I put on barcodes and stamped them and got them started on their new life. Also surprisingly fun! I kind of took a funny sense of pride in my stamping and barcoding. :) Just because the book is free and covered in less than ideal crinkly plastic wrap, that's no reason not to keep it neat and tidy, I say! I stamped those babies nice and straight- no slapshod, sloppy business going all haphazard over the title page! I keep my imprints centered and clean! Maybe one day a patron will appreciate my above and beyond work, notice the smeared stamps on its books' neighbors and enjoy his find all the more? I might?

One of the other ladies that works there told me today that I was a very odd girl....

Either way, I love volunteering there. :) I think fostering a reading habit in kids is so important. I love seeing a bustling crowd, with moms hauling three kids around behind them, piling up books for the family, ten year old girls and boys so excited at the chance to take home lots of stories. I remember that.

I almost got involved in another sort of ongoing volunteer activity, but decided to just participate in a week long camp with them (that was a few weeks ago) and leave it alone for now. I have this tendency to take on a lot of projects, and lose interest, and stop. I am determined to not do that with the library. I'm keeping it simple- a short commitment each Monday, and stick with that. Maybe with your ladies' encouragement, remembering to make a tiny monetary donation to a new cause each month too.

But for now, I'm so excited to be so excited about my volunteering. That hasn't happened for a long while.

Barter, exchange and buy together

P. 183
Barter, exchange and buy together


When the stranger says, "What is the meaning of this city?" what will you answer? 'We all dwell together to make money from each other' or 'This is a community?'
-T.S. Eliot

Consider that you and your neighbors probably own household possessions that you might be able to share. Typical items are lawnmowers, garden tools, and power saws or drills. Start a tool exchange with a group of your neighbors or friends. If you need to buy an expensive tool, see if others are interested in sharing the expense and owning it communally.

Bartering is a great way to save money. Have a meeting with a group who are interested in bartering. Let everyone say what they are willing to share and what they would like to receive in return. Some suggestions for barter include hair-cutting skills, massages, sewing and garment repair, gardening, computer training, word processing, and baby-sitting.

I'm a thief

I seem to enjoy posting things on here that are not my own recently created wonderfulness. :) But I just stumbled across a book I've had for a while, and the title jumped out at me: 365 ways to live a simple and spiritual life. The word simple is what jumped; simplicity has been calling to me a lot lately. So I thought maybe every once in a while, I'll randomly flip to a page, and if I like it, share.

P. 159:
Practice exuberance

Exuberance is beauty.
-William Blake

Don't be cool and calculating. Don't withhold your enthusiasm for life. Instead, be like a baby and absolutely squeal for joy. Dance wildly around your living room, make a fool out of yourself and laugh until the tears run down your cheeks. Give someone you love a huge bunch of flowers, and kiss your mother for no reason. Don't stop there- roll down the car windows and sing your heart out.

Holding back your exuberance makes you old before your time. It may even make you sick as well. If you don't express your joy, you may forget how to be joyful. Express your joy full out at least once a day. Not only will you feel better, but you'll look better too!