Neil Armstrong said, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Or something like that.
My version today is “That’s one small step for someone, one giant leap for me.”
Today I published a piece of writing on Medium.
Previously, I’d submitted a piece of my creative nonfiction to a contest and once I was chosen as a finalist (I did not win) my piece was published on Medium as a part of a collection (also available in print). But this piece was something I’d wanted to share for a while.
It’s not writing- or UX- or travel-related so it didn’t really fit here, but it’s the sort of thing people ask me about sometimes (especially if they’ve seen my social media).
I’m talking about reading. I read a lot. So sometimes I write about reading. And sometimes people reach out to me and ask how I read so much or ask for recommendations. I don’t really make recommendations because everyone likes different things and what I like won’t necessarily be what someone else likes, but, as a former bookseller, I can usually point people in the direction of a few choices they might be interested in. Or I can tell them what I liked and why and let them choose.
My physical TBR (to be read) pile. I’ve got a digital one as well.
The “giant step” for me was posting somewhat of a how-to article.
I have a hard time sharing what I know. I enjoy learning so much and have so much information floating around my head at all times, but I find it challenging most of the time to organize and communicate it in a way that makes me happy and is clear for others.
This can make me afraid to share, but I’ve learned recently that it’s ok to put things out in the world.
““There is nothing authentic about the next thing you’re going to say or do or write. It’s simply a calculated effort to engage with someone else, to contribute, or to cause a result.””
So here is what I wrote: 7 Ways To Meet Your Reading Goal For The Year.
It’s not emotional or travel-related. It is an effort to engage with others and contribute. The result I’m hoping for is that a few more people can find a way to read more books without judging themselves.
So it’s a small step and a giant step. I made progress toward one of my writing goals for the year and pushed myself out of my comfort zone.