What have you left unfinished that might still be worth finishing?

Something more than a book that I finished reading after 15 years

How many books have you bought but have not read?

Photo by CarrieArtsy

Every time you see the pile of new books waiting to be read, you feel guilty. That feeling of buying books and not reading them is common for many busy leaders.

I experienced that many times. This time I found a way to finish reading a book I meant to read 15 years ago. 

The book i trashed and picked up again

I love many Apple products. I admire how Steve Jobs brought creativity and simplicity to the ground-breaking inventions. 

Like many people, I was sad when he passed away in 2011.

I bought his biography because I admire his magical creations, want to be inspired by his stories, and commemorate him and his contributions to the world.  

Only upon receiving the book did I realise it was 656 pages long, at least double of what I usually read. 

I put it on a bookshelf first. Hopefully one day I will read it. 

I did try a few times, but I gave up after feeling how dense it was.  

It sat on the shelf for over 10 years. Until one time while I was moving house, I found the book was completely covered with little yellow age spots.

So I trashed it, feeling SAD and BAD. 

What I did not realise: The physical book was gone. The desire to read it stays. 

Years later, I read more and more. With the invention of audiobooks, I manage to ‘read’ some books that I find hard to follow on paper but easier in audio.

I built a habit of listening to audiobooks while I'm on the go. Recently, when I tried to think of what books to read, I recalled this biography. 

Feeling excited and thinking maybe I can finish it with the audiobook version!

So I borrowed it from an audiobook library. And it took me borrowing and re-borrowing it for 21 days and 4 times to finally finish ‘reading’ it in 3 months.

Unexpected Book Reading Paths

The lesson beyond the book 

Feeling guilty only means we care. I did care about reading that book.

If we care about something, we can act on it one way or another.

I didn’t read it literally, but I listened to it. I finished it 15 years later, and the guilt was replaced by a sense of fulfilment.

Time does not matter. Format does not matter. Action does. 

What do you want to pick up now?

We all have something we wanted to do and feel guilty about not doing. A book to read, a gym class to join, a date with your spouse, or a personal project to resume. 

Sometimes, it's just about timing. And when the time comes, we can always pick it up again and experience it fully. 

If you still want to do it, you can do it now. 

As you grow and learn, you gain a fresher perspective. You may approach it better than you could ever imagine.

I surprised myself by finishing a book I meant to read 15 years ago. 

Now it’s your turn.

Pick one thing you still care about but haven’t done yet. You may be surprised by what happens when you do it differently. 

Hope this article inspires you. If it does, do share with others because

~ WE RISE BY LIFTING OTHERS ~