Accomplished

I am feeling pretty happy with myself this week. I finally finished eight of the nine books I have been reading simultaneously over the past couple of months (not counting my textbooks or articles for research papers). I don't know why I kept starting books when I hadn't finished the previous ones. It may be that I got caught up in the excitement of discoveries of books on topics that I've been interested in recently, or it may be due to the fact that several of the books I had wish-listed on PaperbackSwap became available at the same time. Either way, I've had at least some of the following books in progress for the past three months or so: Respectable Sins, Cure for the Common Life, Inside Out, A Grief Observed, Two Dates or Less, Boundaries in Dating, Heart to Heart About Men, and Private Justice (the only fictional read).

Honestly, all the books were good and each added to my knowledge bank in various helpful ways (with the exception of Private Justice, which was just an enjoyable, suspenseful escape). I will try over the next few days to post some quotes from the books so you can understand more specifically what the books are about and what I found helpful, but I can sum it up by saying that because of these books I find myself more aware of my sinfulness, more understanding of my value as a unique creation of God and equipped to help others recognize that value and treat me accordingly, and more purposeful in my interactions with others - all needed areas of growth for me.

So, not only did I finish several things that have loomed over my head for a while, I also learned a lot and stretched myself in many ways. What a good feeling! ("A very good feeling, the feeling you know that I'll be back when the day is new, and I'll have more ideas for you. And you'll have things you'll want to talk about. I will, too." Pardon the break into song - gotta love Mr. Rogers. His words are a fitting end to this post.)