Fantasy Island

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE WORDS.

I've been known to devour large books in a single setting.  I read very fast.  I read all kinds of books too - self help, personal finance, fiction, biographies - they are mesmerizing and intoxicating.  It's simply amazing how a well written book, no matter how dry the subject matter, can stay with you long after you've finished it.

Books are great, but the older I get, the more I realized that books are not everything.  They can't replace real life.  If you're not careful, your life experience can be limited to only what you've read.

Life is meant to be lived, not just read about.

If you want to know about marriage, you can read all the books you want on the subject - from the experts, couples therapists, relationship quizzes and magazine articles too, but until you've stepped foot into the institution and actually lived and breathed a long term relationship, then you're just a tourist with a little bit of information - someone else's information.

Books can't tell you what it's like to live a life with another human being for decades. They can't even begin to capture what it's like to raise a family with this person, or what it's like to still feel impressed by them even though your first meeting was at Woodstock.  It can't capture what it means to be vulnerable to another human being, what it's like to have them see you at your deep and ugly core and still feel safe.

Don't get me wrong, there are works of art out there that really get close, but if you want to know about something - real know what it's like - don't just read about it.  Live it. Breathe it. Sleep it. Let it seep into your pores and wash over you.

Get out into the world and enjoy. That's what it's there for.