Director's Chair

From the Director’s Chair
with Pam Coyle...
The 2015 Summer Reading Program theme for adults is “Escape the Ordinary” and the children’s is titled “Every Hero has a Story.”  Many of the director’s columns this year will focus on these themes.

As you form your New Year’s resolution(s), most of them will have to do with becoming stronger, in mind, body, faith, or community. You become stronger in mind by educating yourself on new and interesting topics, in body by consistently exercising specific muscles and resisting those foods that harm you, in faith by studying the tenets and how to put them into place when adversity strikes, and in community by becoming a vital part of those organizations whose goals and results positively impact  the members of the community who need help.

Consider what all of these have in common with strength—of mind, body and character. When you visualize strength what comes to mind; a closed fist or an open hand? One revelation for the new year is that strength is indeed an open hand.

As you commit to making your mind stronger by learning a new language, a new skill or more about your work, think about opening your mind to different views on the world, politics and people.  As you focus on becoming physically stronger, ponder the fact that in addition to the gym, carrying in groceries, lifting or packing food or repairing roofs for those unable to do so, this is the open hand way of doing things.

So to with growing in your faith or ethical behavior, you can understand and articulate your viewpoint better if you keep an open mind and learn about other viewpoints. As Carmine Falcone, from the movie Batman Begins stated, “You always fear what you don’t understand.”

If your strength comes from a closed fist, think about what you cannot do with a closed fist—pick a flower, hold a child’s hand, turn the page on a book, or caress a loved one in their hour of need.

In 2015, escape the ordinary by opening your hand, your mind, and your heart to all the possibilities.  To learn more about  library resources that will help you learn a new language, understand different faiths, control anger, gain physical strength, or find your passion, check out our blog (mbcpl.blogspot.com).