Imagine if we extended ourselves just a little, everyday to those around us, even if it is in small ways, how many lives we can uplift around us!

It can be hard and for a friendly introvert like myself it can seem like a ridiculous challenge, but I am going to keep trying!

An intentional wave to a neighbor, a friendly smile and a hello, asking someone how their day was, and really stopping to listen to them, even a note dropped in the mail to say hey your yard looks great!

How funny I just came across this article on www.intuitivejourney.com called Spiritual Meaning of Fireflies by Bob (February 27, 2018). He talks about how the fireflies light is enlightenment and they are a symbol of wisdom, inspiration and healing.

For me it has been dragonflies recently. Just when I was sure I could prove the dark web had hacked my email I saw all these dragonflies in my yard. I took no photos, emailed no one, told no one, not even those in person with me. I opened my photo sharing site and there it was hundreds of photos describing the dragonfly and its meaning. I couldn't help but laugh because somehow the dark web has been able to read my thoughts and send me inspiration now!? (or maybe The Matrix is real or maybe I am just on the Truman Show. lol). I will choose to believe it was a gift from a higher power, be thankful and leave it at that.

Also, I was just thinking yesterday about ballroom dancing. Not exactly the same as "a flailing, crazy person...serious boogey-woogey...danced, like there was no tomorrow and no yesterday." I really am trying to picture this clearly, maybe the local news caught it on camera?

This was a short and fun read! I love the fall and sweaters, especially big comfy soft ones that feel like blankets! I grew up in the Northeast and so we live in winter 9 months out of the year, I can prove it! I have a video from April 27th this year where it was snowing big fluffy flakes! It just didn't stick to anything this time cause we had warm day-you know, like 47 degrees. lol

Okay I must be older than I realized because I had to google what some of this stuff was before I replied. lol Where I live antique malls are in every town and they are used by everyone! I love them!! They are cheap shopping trips sometimes (did you know wicker furniture is now chic and costs more than my 1970s high back couch did?), museums, collectors, nostalgia, reflection, preservation booths and a snapshot of eras gone by. Out of print books are my favorite! I once checked the online catalog of the 71! libraries that surround me (70 mile radius) and not one had the book I bought at the antique mall! I am pleased to own a piece of history, preserve it and share it freely with others.

Scary, good is right. I feel much older after reading this. I have a Facebook account, but I am almost never on it, and even then I am selective in how I use it. I use YouTube for learning and music sometimes, but first I need that neat Google feature with the musical note to help me out. I was never on myspace. I am not on twitter or snapchat or instagram or tiktok. Heck, I still haven't signed up for Linkedin that my SBA mentor keeps harping on and I have had friend requests sent to my email for a few years now. lol

I LOVE my books, your books, the libraries books, way more! Maybe they should be sending me notifications through my library card instead. lol

This is a terrific idea! I wish I could tag you on this Bill! (hmmm?...didn't somebody mention that feature already. lol -Totally awesome idea Erica!) Have you read this one yet, Bill? I noticed while searching for myself, that there is a group in Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, Grand Rapids,(I know you already passed these) but there is Milwaukee! and Minneapolis! too! They meet once a week, it sounded like, and there are sometimes up to 200 plus people! Imagine getting a turn to introduce Readup at one of these events and connect with other creative minds!

I meet a lot of people during my day, but not all my interactions pave the way for bringing up the site. Also, there are so many places I visit and things I do where I drop things off that I could leave some information. It might catch attention that I would of otherwise missed. Bookmarks, Flyers, Bumper stickers, are passive ways of reaching people. They are choosing to read the information. These items could be placed in locations from our local libraries, laundromats, community centers, church bulletin boards, etc I even saw a community board at a local gas station and while waiting in line, two people pulled down business cards. You as the founders can't be everywhere at once, but I bet all us readers are in different places and we can help in our own areas. If there was a downloadable link on the side of the website where we could print these items off using a link we could do it at our own pace, in our own communities, across the country. I would love to see it with a way to track how they heard about the site too! I also travel a lot and being able to leave information at sites I am only visiting for the day would be amazing! Another idea is that we could write the website name inside of books we donate to libraries or to little free libraries inside the book covers. People picking up the books are already readers, so you are half way there with them. I say the biggest idea is that if you want to attract more readers to the site-go where the readers are. Bookstores, coffee shops, libraries, education learning centers, etc. Also have you thought about sharing information with any volunteer organizations that help people through books, like Wounded Warriors, Military Special Needs offices, Books and Barks, and as crazy as it sounds Senior Citizen Centers? Finding the directors of these offices and contacting them could be a lot more people helping you share your site too! I definitely think that a way to share on social media platforms is a must!! Even if the Readup founders and some of its readers don't use these methods, there are that many more of us that do. These are just some of my ideas anyway. Give us, the readers, your supporters, more tools to help you, Share. That could even be the title of the tab <-----over there to the left that says Sharing Tools, maybe?

Two posts in one day, it's a record! You are doing great! Your word restraint...hmmm? For me, instead of the word restraint, I choose Grateful. To have gratitude is to be pleased and thankful with what one has. It is a chosen mindset. When I grow my garden every year and I have just enough to feed my family, I am grateful. When I have more than enough, I am grateful I can share with those in need. If the harvest doesn't come in I am disappointed, but I am grateful I had the chance to try. I am also simultaneously frustrated and disappointed, but I try very hard to choose to be, to remember to be grateful. I don't initially plant and grow the garden to restrain my budget or my diet, but for the simple purpose to eat and be full. I strive to choose a mindset of being grateful. I think you are learning the power of being grateful, not restraint, unless you are a secret millionaire. In which case, I have some delicious produce that is priced accordingly. lol

These will be fantastic incentives to educators and their students in the future! The words are fantastic and with simple symbols to match, awesome!

If Readup ever does a meetup and serves breakfast, I am bringing my own mug. I could see your "crusty mug" that clearly. Lol

I don't need the stats, but I sure do like them!
I was on before, reading articles like it was an Olympian pro workout and I noticed my 'rank" was 12. I left for a hot minute and now I am at 216! Sheesh, you guys are tough competitors!
The new stats give me insight on this. As an assistant educator to young people, I can see how this new addition will help keep us on track! I can't wait to introduce it in my fall classes!

He attacked books! Not cool, man, not cool!

While reading this article I felt like I was trapped in the movie scene during Ferris Bueller's Day Off where Ben Stein repeats, Bueller...Bueller...

In my opinion the author has such a spirally sense of topical thought that you aren't sure even at the end exactly what the heck it is that he was trying to say. If I was talking to this guy in person I would nod, smile, and very very slowly take steps backward, praying he didn't follow.

"How might we make books actually work reliably? ......... But I believe it’s possible, and I’ll now try to share why."

My last cognitive thoughts were, Dear Lord, please stop this article from getting any longer or I am going to have to scratch my eyes out while reading.

All that said, some (so very little) of what he wrote I could get behind.

Basically a book is a medium to utilize, to begin gaining an understanding of a more knowledgeable experience, that should be backed up with discussion, testing, utilization, employing all five of the human senses, and then put in to practice and shared with fellow partners in learning the topic in which the book was addressing.

Your welcome, I just saved your retinas and brain cells from sure destruction.

Honoring our veterans is so important! Many have come back wounded and not all wounds can be seen. Look them in the eye and say thank you. It is important that they know how much we appreciate what they do everyday, at a moments notice, for months at a time, for terrible pay, and in awful working conditions. Thank you to each and every veteran, past, present and future!

OMG!! This guy is like the Christian Grey of the Aromatherapy crowd!!! Forget the men, I AM going to try this! I prefer my showers one degree above scalding and I love food, so it should work out perfectly. Now if I can get a man in there with that orange so ".. that sensation of having indulged in some basic animal sensuality, and therefore of having gotten away with something, will stay with you." I should say that would be one unforgettable shower of my lifetime!

Challenge accepted! Now buckle up cowboy cause this ride is gonna get....real!! Just kidding. Recently I met a man, (Mr. Lean and Handsome), who had all these intelligent things to say (at least when I let him get a word in edge wise..lol) and I completely related to what he was saying. The conversation seemed to flow pretty well, but there was an entire mental state behind the scenes. At least for me. While we were talking I kept mentally yelling at myself, Think woman think, focus, say something witty and personal...spit it out. I was nervous which made me ramble, but he felt like sunshine to me. Which is weird, because I don't spend much time with people these days. Books and animals are where much of my safer work revolves. SO, I lurk, I read other brave peoples comments, and I mentally participate. I think everyone feels that pressure to be witty, funny, and a participant. Add commenting in writing and now you have to worry about grammar and spelling and the fact that you cant ever....ever take it back and that's enough to make even a seasoned chatter box hide in their turtle shell. But now you have thrown out this challenge, this call to Readup followers to put their voices out there so you can get feedback on "...this crazy experiment.." Well I am standing up, or in this case, writing down what I think. I think its great and I totally believe its a great idea! Keep moving forward. How else can we help?

"It's the pretense that I really dislike. Unnecessary wordiness. A "look at me" vibe. If a student ever gave me an essay like this (and if I thought they could handle real feedback), I would put a red pen through the whole thing and write, "Stop THINKING so much and learn to just... write."

While reading this I was thinking I can completely relate, we have had such similar experiences, I bet we would enjoy each other's company in person, and then I read your comment. LOL Well, maybe not. (I am a very wordy one long run on sentence of intimate emotions all jumbled up in my mind.) Also, I am a mom and I do give it a 10, no pity included, because it is a good start. Everyone must start somewhere and if you don't take those first scary steps then you will never improve. I am curious to hear another persons take on addiction. I have had 14 years of experience being a military wife to a functioning alcoholic. One addiction usually leads to another in my limited experience. You are a strong person for quitting cold turkey, but like you said "Nature is a drug. A medicine. Life." I believe that to be so very true.