The Ripple Effect of Books

Books Books Books!!

Books are INCREDIBLE things, but I couldn't have told you this until a few years ago. I didn't read in school, unless it was a class book we were reading and even then, it was the worst chore I could think of. I didn't understand the girl who sat in the library and read a book in a day, like really, are you kidding me??!! Why??
Many years later, needing to kill time while waiting to have my 2nd child, we went to the library for the sole purpose of trying to entertain my 4 year old daughter while we were out of town. I took the book I had read maybe 2 chapters, I owned it probably for a couple of years. I bought the book because I really liked the movie, and as I sat in the library while my 4 year old was entertained on the computer, I suddenly found myself immersed in the pages of the adventure that lie in the words spread out line after line. I finished the book within a week and I suddenly got it, I understood!! I got why people read, escaping into a completely other world, it was amazing!! I was pretty proud of myself for the effort and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I started to read more books and I discovered quickly there were ones I couldn't put down. Ones where I would sneak away to the bedroom every spare minute I had to read some in between cries and feeds and staying up late because I just didn't want to put it down. I'd come to love reading, something I never thought I'd say, but it was great. I really loved reading fantasy fiction books.

Fiction then Non-Fiction
Up until May 2015, I had only ever read fiction books. I'd been given a self-help book by a psychologist but just couldn't get into it.
Mid 2015 I found myself embarking on a new journey starting my own business. I was encouraged by a mentor to read a professed life-changing book called The 4 Agreements. I soon went to the bookstore and purchased the book. I sat down and started reading it, she was right, it was pretty amazing and I had only read the first agreement. This agreement alone, actually did help change my life and the timing was perfect as it helped me deal with a personal situation in life which I otherwise would have had great difficulty with getting through. I finished the book and now live my life as much as I can following the 4 Agreements. They help me live an authentic life, one with integrity and honesty. My mentor at the time was correct, The Four Agreements is a life-changing book and one I often find myself sharing it with other's often. This was the start of my journey into the personal development, self-help genre and non-fiction books.
Since my journey to personal growth began, I've found myself blessed with so much wisdom through the pages of incredible books, with profound messages in each one which helps me improve my life, or challenges and helps me change my way of thinking and beliefs, ultimately improving the quality of the life I lead. The pages of the books I've read have helped me understand more about myself, my family, given me confidence to be the person I am and the person I desire to be.
There have been times where a book has jumped off the bookshelf at a library (I wish I could say literally because it feels like that's what happened) where each page seemed to answer an underlying question I didn't even realise I had at the time. Divine intervention some would say. I have laughed at stories, cried with stories and been through all the emotions in between while reading books. I've seen deeply into other's lives and been inspired by their stories and adversities they've been able to overcome. Writing my own book I have the hope to be able to do the same for other's as has been contributed to me over the years. I often find myself at the library now, either writing my own book, or reading one and I love taking the kids there too. An invaluable lesson teaching children the value of books is something I didn't learn for too long and I don't want my children to miss out on the tremendous offering books encompass.

Kids and Books
Both my children have a love of books, and I can only put that down to reading to them since they were children. They read to me sometimes at bedtime now too. They love borrowing books from the library and they too love the adventures books offer. I also love the fact they enjoy going to the library and it's not just a place for 'geeks' as I used to think growing up, there is much to be learnt and enjoyed in a library.
I wish I had books read to me as a child. The special time of a parent sitting down reading their child a bedtime story, sharing adventures and fairy-tale stories, learning about all the wonderful things your imagination can provide following the paths of the characters in the books. Reading books and planting seeds with valuable lessons for children to take with them throughout their life. Books for children provide much more than just words and pictures on a page, they are full of wonderful memories which can be held onto for a life-time.

Sadly, not all children will get the luxury of these memories.
There are so many children who won't ever experience the joy and elation of their Mum or Dad sitting with them at night reading them a bedtime story, or to hear the words read aloud of the pages which lay open in front of them. The stories and information a parent would relay to them as they grow up, teaching them valuable things about life. The wonderful memories and experiences of sitting on the lap of a parent while their arms embrace you, their voice soft by your ear as they change their tones and voices portraying different characters on the page may never be experienced for many children, but not all is lost. We still have the opportunity to change children's lives through books and gift them what they might never otherwise receive. The 1000 Ripple Effects Project is one of the many opportunities we have to change a child's life, by bringing words of wisdom, or a story to a child who doesn't have a Mum or Dad to pass on to them.

Messages in books
Books are life-changing, there is absolutely no doubt about it. The ripple effect of reading a book has the potential to change your life over and over again, not only for you but you also have the ability to pass on what you've learnt to another person through a book and so on. I recommend The 4 Agreements book to everyone I get into a conversation with about books. This one book alone suggested by a mentor has impacted my life so much, I know sharing it with others has and will have had the same potential it did for me, an everlasting ripple effect, who knows where it even began before it was shared with me. I've even lent my copy out to be read too. To do this often and with several different books is not only a moving ripple effect, but multiple ripple effects, continually affecting, changing and impacting other's lives.
There are SO many beautiful things which can be found and gifted through books, so many lessons, advice, inspiration and motivation. The idea for this blog came to me as I sat in front of my stack of books deciding which one to read next when I was reminded of the 'ripple effects' books can offer. At the same time remembering the beautiful intention of The 1000 Ripple Effects project devoted to package a special offering for children and others around the world for the sole purpose of changing their life and gifting them what they may never otherwise be given. It seemed only fitting this be my next topic for my blog, what an incredible opportunity it is to be able to pass on and change even just one child's life. Just beautiful!
1000 Stories. 1000 gold nuggets. 1000 gifts all throughout 4 books with the power to change many thousands of lives, and best of all, children's lives. It's all about giving back, the power of The 1000 Ripple Effect.
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Find out More
Do you have a piece of advice, or a story you'd like to share with a child? You too can be involved, you don't need any special abilities, titles, gifts. Everyone has a message, and YOU can be part of this too. Head on over to www.1000rippleeffects.com to find out how you too can be a part of this incredible project, all about giving back and changing lives.
Follow the 1000 Ripple Effects Facebook Page www.facebook.com/1000RippleEffects/ to be kept up to date with the progress and meet the authors. 

Written By Kayleen Greagen-Castle
You can follow Kayleens' Blog @ Www.thoughtfulperspectives.com 



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Other  Blogs Written by Kayleen Greagen-Castle

1)  Children are Our Future Generation
2)  The Ripple Effect of Books
3)  Ripple Effect 
4)  
5)  

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1000 Stories Creating 1000 Ripple Effects Across the World!

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