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The Magic Card

Guest post by: Jim Stovall

Article Overview: Just last week while listening to a radio newscast, I heard the most disturbing statistic imaginable. The statistic shocked me so much that I listened to the same newscast a half hour later to be certain that I had heard it right. The radio announcer proclaimed, "Less than 5% of Americans have a library card, and less than ½ of 1% use their card with any degree of frequency." As a blind person, I think back to when I could read a book with my eyes like you are reading this column now. I'm embarrassed to say that at that time in my life, I took reading for granted, and I don't know that I ever read an entire book cover-to-cover. Today, with books-on-tape and a high-speed tape recorder, I read a book every day. This has literally changed my life.

The Magic Card

Just last week while listening to a radio newscast, I heard the most disturbing statistic imaginable. The statistic shocked me so much that I listened to the same newscast a half hour later to be certain that I had heard it right. The radio announcer proclaimed, "Less than 5% of Americans have a library card, and less than ½ of 1% use their card with any degree of frequency."

As a blind person, I think back to when I could read a book with my eyes like you are reading this column now. I'm embarrassed to say that at that time in my life, I took reading for granted, and I don't know that I ever read an entire book cover-to-cover. Today, with books-on-tape and a high-speed tape recorder, I read a book every day. This has literally changed my life.

I heard a wise man say once, "You will be the same person five years from today except for the people you meet and the books that you read." At the time, I felt that it was an over-statement of fact. Now I believe, if anything, his words were understated.

Knowledge is the key to anything you want in this life. I've heard it said that if you take all the money in the world and divide it equally among everyone, in a few short years, the money will be back where it is today. In financial terms, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. It is important to realize, however, that money is not the key. Knowledge is the key. And just as that knowledge allows money to accumulate around people who have attained a certain understanding about money, knowledge will allow you to attract whatever it is that you want in your life.

Virtually anything that you want to know is available for you within a few short miles of where you live - at the public library. There is simply no excuse for those people who go through life ignorant of the knowledge it would take for them to reach their goals. You have heard it said, "It's not what you know, but it's who you know." In reality, it is both. Success boils down to both what you know and who you know.

Some of the greatest minds in recorded history are waiting to communicate with you and tell you their secrets of getting anything you want out of this life. Their words, thoughts, and advice are located between the covers of books at your public library. Make a commitment to grow a little each day.

As one of the great cheerleaders of the written word always said, "The more books you read, the taller you grow."

Today's the day!

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Article Tags: change your life, Jim Stovall, library, reading



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