You are how you read
There is a great article at The Atlantic.com called Is Google Making Us Stupid?
One point stood out for me…how your read demonstrates how you are leading your life.
Do you indulge in a good read, taking your time to absorb the words as well as to reflect on the meaning? Or do you, like me, scan for key words and get to the end as fast as you can? In today’s world where we are buried in messages, deep reading has become a struggle. Are we experiencing life the same way?
It may be hard for you to turn your brain off “power browse.” Notice how you are reading this post. Did you judge it’s length before reading a word (that’s why I kept it short)? Will you sit back and think about how it applies to you before you go on to the next? Does this relate to how you start and run your day?
I hope you have stayed with this post to the end. Please take a moment to share your thoughts and tips with other women who might also take a moment to slow down and enjoy the moment with you.
Well, I confess to being a scanner.
I scanned, thinking, “hmmm, I want to think about this more - maybe I could save it to my “I must read later but don’t usually get to” file.
I’d add that I was reading via Google Reader, extracted to iGoogle home page - which prompts a scanning approach.
I am part of a creative cluster, following the Artist’s Way courses (in my cases the Walking in this World unit) so I do get some deep thinking time each week.
But I do tend to multi task and scan things much of the time.
So, I was intrigued by the quick post, and I knew that I could relate….and when I clicked on the link to the Google article, about 2 paragraphs in, my mind said “blah, blah, blah, get to the point” and I skimmed the paragraph. I didn’t finish the article. We as a global community, are more connected then ever to each other through the web, blogging, texting, social web networking, and yet I find truly connecting with myself or a task for an extended reflective piece of time is becoming increasingly difficult. My mind skims and says, “blah, blah, blah” whats the point and moves on. The urgency to be constantly “doing” is increasing in intensity.
This is so funny. I also scanned the Google article looking for the tidbits of wisdom. I have to watch that I don’t do that to people as well.
I find the older I get, the more impatient I am when reading! Just like Addison, I say, “Blah, blah, blah, get to the point!” And sometimes I’m shocked at myself. I used to be a lot more patient. Could it be because of increasing responsibilities and the resulting time constraints? Or because of more “high powered thinking” as I become more of an achiever? I’ll think about that!