It’s All About The Journey
I buy books. Lots of books! I bought How to Read a Book, by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren, decades ago. I don’t recall having ever read it. I laughed at the realization of having packed, unpacked, and repacked a book I had never finished over the course of five international relocations.
I have questions. Many questions! Why did I buy this book? The simple answer is I wanted to learn how to read a book intelligently. Why did it take me 30-years to finish? At the time, I didn’t need all it had to offer. Why did I keep it all these years? It held some promise for my future learning. Questions and books are great companions and guides for my journeying.
I read. I read a lot! I read for enjoyment, to learn something new, and to get my questions answered. As Adler points out, “Reading is all about asking the right questions in the right order and seeking answers.”[1] Often, a good read is about timing. Reading a text with questions in mind opens the door for meaningful connections.[2] In choosing to read a book I am asking of it important questions. The journey is taking on the responsibility to answer the questions for myself.[3] I have one overarching question of all the books I read. How will this book change me?
I take notes. Too many notes! I get lost in them. I’m afraid of forgetting or missing something important. As I write, I see ten sticky notes, an appointment book, three journals, and a nearly filled spiral notebook within in my reach. Not to mention the notes on my phone! I see the truth behind Ahrens words, “…the everyday writing, the note-taking, draft-making. Like breathing it is vital.” [4] I feel like I am hyperventilating. I need to take slow deep breaths and pause long enough to notice what is truly essential to put on paper. Just as I learned to use breath to calm my body, mind, and spirit, I can learn to take smart notes in order to calm and organize my thinking. I am ready for a new and less frantic note-taking journey.
“I think therefore I am”
Rene Descartes
I think. I overthink! My thoughts are not always helpful, engaging, or true. My thoughts are evidence of my humanity and part of who I am. If I don’t share or question my thoughts, what am I? Who am I? Collecting my thoughts in writing connects me with myself and others. I’m curious about my critical thinking skills. To what extent do I conform? Am I willing to stand alone when facing criticism from others?[5] Essay writing on a public blog feels risky. It puts my thoughts and maybe my existence out there for the world to see. I can be lazy with my thoughts. Writing offers me a still, quiet place to focus and think. Writing is a journey, an adventure into the unknown. I never know where I might end up. I may surprise or disappoint myself. I may enlighten or anger someone else. Writing reveals new paths of discovery.
I like journeys. All kinds of journeys. Just as my yellowed and dusty copy of Adler has traveled across oceans with me, the reading, note-taking, and writing skills I continue to learn are part of my journey. This doctoral program is a journey filled with the promise of new discoveries about myself. There will be packing, unpacking, and repacking again. I set out in faith knowing I will be changed by the process and will arrive home more useful and prepared for the next one.
[1] “How to Read a Book: The Ultimate Guide by Mortimer Adler,” accessed November 2, 2022. https://fs.blog/how-to-read-a-book/
[2] Sonke Ahrens, How to Take Smart Notes, ed. Kathy Drouin-Keith. (Hamburg, Germany: Independently Published, 2022), 88.
[3] Adler, Mortimer J. and Van Doren, Charles. 1967. How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading. Rev. ed. (New York: Simon & Schuster), 15.
[4] Ahrens, How to Take Smart Notes, 2.
[5] Richard Paul and Linda Elder, The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools (London, UK: Rowan & Littlefield, 2020), 25.
About the Author
Jenny Dooley
Jenny served as a missionary in Southeast Asia for 28 years. She currently resides in Gig Harbor, Washington, where she works as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Spiritual Director in private practice with her husband, Eric. Jenny loves to listen and behold the image of God in others. She enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her family which include 5 amazing adult children, 3 awesome sons-in-law, a beautiful daughter-in-law, and 8 delightful grandchildren.14 responses to “It’s All About The Journey”
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I am so thankful to be on this journey with you, Jenny. I had to chuckle as I envisioned your book traveling the world unread. An orphan Flat Stanley of sorts. Since you are an avid note-taker are you using a certain online system or will you rely on a traditional method?
I am grateful to be on this journey with you as well! I am rethinking my note-taking. I write too much and likely not the most important things. I like the Smart-Note technique. I think I might need to modify it. I downloaded Obsidian. The blank page freaked me out! My struggle is to pick a method and stick to it. I am giving myself two weeks to figure it out. Do you have a preferred method that works well for you?
The old song by Michael Card, “There is a Joy in the Journey” comes to mind. When I think of my spiritual journey I come to the hopeful conclusion that “God is not finished with me yet.” It is odd that I would be in a doctoral program, but this new focus on contributing to the integration of refugees gets my blood pumping. The masses of reading, however, makes me pale in FEAR! Thanks for leading us down the path of academia!
I hope I am still on the journey of learning when this program is long finished. Though there is fear, there is also excitement. Sometimes they feel the same. I had to remind myself of that fact daily this week. I have never written a blog post until today. I’m learning the technology and welcoming the mistakes. Honestly, the technology supporting this academic journey feels quite daunting. I think Kim mentioned in her post that the goal is not perfection, but growth. Technological growth is part of my journey. I am grateful to be on this journey with you.
Well, they say the “first step is admitting you have a problem and you’re powerless against it!”
Your vulnerability paved the way for me to now be open: “Hello, my name is John, and I am a book-a-holic.”
Whew, that felt good. Welcome Jenny. This is a safe space. Grab a cup of cold, church basement coffee and let’s share our stories!
🙂
Hi John! I may take you up on the coffee and the chat. 🙂 There is much value in telling our stories and processing our feelings as we go through this academic process. I’m all about stress-reduction and good self-care. I am noticing with this first week of the semester a bit more stress and the need to stick to my self-care practices. I toss those quicker than I toss a book!
What kinds of books do you hang on too?
Jenny, I’d love to hear how you were able to create hyperlink footnotes. I’m asking everyone that I see who has them, because I’ve been digging deep online to figure it out, but alas…
Help.
Thanks.
One journey I did not mention in my post was the technological journey. This will be a big growth area for me. What is a hyperlink? My admissions continue! This is the first blog I have ever written. I viewed the videos, wrote my document in Word, used Zotero for my references, the media button to add a couple photos, and then did some edits. If I answered your question please let me know:)
As a fellow traveler-packer-unpacker I would love to know how you handle the paper vs. ebook dilemma. I value and prefer the tangible feel of a “real” book but I am living with seriously limited bookshelf space. How do you deal with this? Have your thoughts changed over the course of your career?
I have two kindles that I rarely use. I can not get used to reading on a device. I only do it when necessary. I like a real book in my hands. I have several bookshelves and a house big enough that space is not an issue. However, I am selective and go through my books regularly. Giving a few away at a time helps. I have a number questions I ask of the book when making the decision to give it away. How was it useful to me? Will I read it again? Do I refer to it often? Is there some sentiment attached to it? Will I regret not seeing it on my shelf? Books that have changed me in some significant way are always keepers. I am about to do another purge!
I got so tickled by the visual of you packing and unpacking books for all of your wonderful journeys. I am also a collector of notes…I am inspired to create a system that feeds into a greater purpose and not just wallpaper for my office.
My books hold very specific memories for me. Finding books in English was like finding buried treasure. For reasons unknown to me, but by God’s grace and provision I found a little stationary shop in Phnom Penh that was selling paperback classics for $1 each. I read the entire works of the Bronte sisters, GK Chesterton, and much of Charles Dickens and kept my sanity during a stressful and isolating time. Reading was part of my self-care. I would love to hear your thoughts on creating your new note-taking system!
Hey Jenny, I love your insight into yourself and especially your comment, “Writing reveals new paths of discovery.” This really made me think because I am wondering that I tend to write what I know. But am I missing out on discovering something? Have I ever written an essay and discovered something? Was there something to discover and I missed it? If so, why did I miss it? Jenny, thank you for sparking good questions in my heart.
Todd, Thank you for your kind words. I realized some time a go I needed to ask myself good questions. As you know, being in a helping and listening profession, we’re trained to notice and draw our what is going on inside other people. I can easily forget to to notice myself. Asking questions of myself and writing has helped me discover more than a few lost parts or neglected parts of myself. I am excited to hear about your self-discoveries as these blog posts continue.