When I was in elementary school, I used to love reading biographies. As a matter of fact, there was a series in the library that I was particularly fond of. I can still envision those covers – monochromatic with a stripe on the spine about two-thirds of the way down from the top, telling me who the book was about.
These days, I still enjoy biographies, often those written by or about celebrities. Although I first got into this by listening to memoirs read by the author on Audible, I also blame my subscription to People magazine.
Last week, at a local independent bookstore, I picked up Michael J. Fox’s latest book, Future Boy. Having grown up in the era of Family Ties, Back to the Future and Spin City, I developed a particular interest in this man who is basically my age, battling battles I hope never to face. I've either read or listened to all of his other books, so this purchase was a no-brainer. The book grabbed me immediately, and I look forward to reading a little more every night.
Meanwhile, in the same visit, I purchased a book I'm using to begin my days. Less memoir than inspiration This Beautiful Day is a collection of "Daily Wisdom from Mister Rogers." Growing up, I was less a fan of Fred Rogers than Michael J. Fox; Mister Rogers' Neighborhood didn't capture my attention in quite the same way as time-traveling DeLoreans, I suppose. It was only as an adult that I truly began to appreciate the beauty inherent in the simplicity of Mister Rogers.
Rather than reading This Beautiful Day cover to cover, I'm using the subtitle as my guide, reading one or two of the entries each day. I'm a little less than 30 entries in but already these messages have provided information I needed to hear or be reminded of. As a result, I've begun a morning ritual of tearing off yesterday's page on the New Yorker calendar my daughter gave me for Christmas and reading a bit of Mister Rogers.
It's a pretty nice way to start the day.
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