Saturday, December 12, 2009

Sunday Saying

The difference between you now 
and you in five years will be 
the books you read and the people you hang out with."
- Charles Tremendous Jones

Do you think that is accurate ... 
that books and people can change us? 

5 comments:

Dagmar said...

Oh for sure! And you know what, it will always be for the better. Because there's always that learning proces even in bad books or not that wonderful persons. It will bring you only closer to yourself.

Rachel H. Evans said...

I love this quote, and absolutely agree that books and people change us - or at least influence us to change. Books expose us to new ways of thinking about the world and people expose us to new ways of interacting with it. That's why I think diversity - in reading material and in friendships - is so important. I don't want to surround myself with books and people that simply confirm what I already believe. Life is so much more interesting when we leave room for change!

Paladin said...

I agree with the quote 100%.

The information we take in definitely helps mold who we are - for better or for worse. Likewise, the people we associate with have an influence on the choices we make.

Also for better or for worse.

Kind of like the whole "nature vs nurture" thing - only I believe it continues through your whole life. Not just when you're a child.

Janet Oberholtzer said...

Thanks for your thoughts!
@Barefoot ... good point that we can learn something from both the good and bad.

@Rachel ... so true, diversity is good. It can be easy to gravitate towards books we agree with or people like us ... but should we look at where we want to be down the road and then be intentional about being with people or reading books that will help move us there?

@Paladin ... yes, I also think that it is a lifelong thing. And if we quit changing (or quit being open to it) is probably the day we quit having a fulfilling life.

I posted this on my Facebook page and received a number of comments there. Everyone tends to agree with it. One person said, "wrinkles and fat cells can also change us in five years :)"

S. Etole said...

This reminds me of the Sunday School song, "Be careful little eyes what you see." I'm not sure we ever outgrow the need to be careful what we see and hear and what we allow to influence us for either the better or worse. "Guard your hearts," is an essential admonition.