Musing Mondays is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.
This week, MizB asks:
"How often do you actually put into practice what you learn from reading nonfiction books (if you read nonfiction, that is)?"
Yes and no in a round about kind of way. Most of the non-fiction that I read is related to health and fitness. I get out these books specifically to study and learn the stretches within or for nutrition tips. However, I am mostly putting what I learn from non-fiction into practice when I acquire them with the intent to apply the given knowledge in my own life.
I also enjoy pop culture non-fiction but I don't think that it has as much impact on my daily practices. For example, as much as I was moved by the passion of the Sea Shepherds when I read The Whale Warriors by Peter Heller I have not stopped eating fish. (Just for the record I would never eat whale but I would hope that was considered a given.) I do not consider Mark Thomas' Belching Out the Devil: Global Adventures with Coca-Cola to be responsible for my giving up drinking all soft drink (fizzy, soda, pop, whatever people are inclined to call it in your neck of the woods) but it did come to mind when I made my decision. That decision was more financially and health motivated. (Nearly three months soft drink free now!). I had already long gone off fast food by the time I picked up Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal by Eric Schlosser.
I don't think that every piece of non-fiction that a person reads needs to be personally useful or applicable to their life in some way. It can be just as rewarding to read something because you find the knowledge intellectually enriching or just plain fun or maybe you hope that it will pop up during a game of trivia sometime and you can impress everyone with your vast mental treasure trove of otherwise useless knowledge. That said, I probably should be trying to apply more of what I learn from the non-fiction. I would probably be a healthier and more environmentally friendly person if I did.
Terra
Congrats on 3 months with no pop! I'm still struggling to get through just ONE month without any... trying to give it up because of the negative effects it's having on my own health.
It's a constant struggle, but I'm sure we'll get there, eventually. ;)
~MizB
You have to find the right motivation. Personally, mine came in a bit of an "aha!" moment. After getting my licence a few months back I found myself suddenly getting called on to be the designated driver quite a bit for my friends so I would end up drinking A LOT of coke and lemonade while out only to get home completely buzzed on caffeine and sugar. I realised that this couldn't possibly be healthy and decided to quit cold turkey. Throw in the fact that my friends and I like to have dinner out fairly often and I save quite a bit of money by sticking to the complimentary glasses of water and as long as I say that I am just on a health kick no one calls me out as being cheap but they will call me on it if I break my "diet" so to speak. ;)
About a month ago I did try a sip of coke and found that I have lost the taste for it, to be honest, which makes it quite easy now not to feel tempted to go back.
"I don't think that every piece of non-fiction that a person reads needs to be personally useful or applicable to their life in some way."
I totally agree!
I agree that we don't always have to use what we read to make changes in our lives...we pick and choose what we want to use.
Here's what I wrote:
http://meditationsbylaurelrain.wordpress.com/2010/08/30/musing-mondays-putting-ideas-into-practice/
Congratulations on giving up soda! I never drank much soda, but have managed over the last 4 years to completely give up processed sugar... it's been hugely beneficial!
Here's what I wrote for Musing Mondays:
http://parchmentgirl.com/2010/08/30/musing-mondays-no-two/