Go Down Rabbit Holes With A Purpose
Take Pen to Paper: Edition 136
Greetings, Take Pen to Paper Readers!
It seems appropriate to go down a rabbit hole when reading, as opposed to scrolling social media or the internet.
After all, isn’t it thanks to Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland that we have the expression “going down a rabbit hole”? Books are certainly better than doom-scrolling.
Do you know what makes going down a rabbit hole even better?
Purpose.
In this newsletter:
Have a reason to enter the rabbit hole.
Start with a book.
It’s more than what you read.
What’s In There? Why Should I Go?
If you’re going down a rabbit hole, you might as well have a reason. There are plenty of other rabbit holes to explore besides the ones that fill your life with negativity or just waste your time.
Rabbit holes all look appealing. You don’t have to give up rabbit holes; you just need to be more selective and have a why. Having a purpose behind your exploration changes the experience of exploring the rabbit hole and makes it worth your time.
Purpose gives you a reason to follow your curiosity.
I’ve made a conscious effort to stop scrolling with no purpose and put a why behind my explorations.
I find myself spending less time on my phone and more time engaging.
It Started With Books
In the past few years, books have grabbed me by the hand and led me down several rabbit holes.
What started as curiosity developed into the purpose of learning more. In addition to reading for this newsletter, I’ve been exploring:
Stoicism
Greek Myths
Abraham Lincoln
William Shakespeare
I started reading introductions, footnotes, and author’s notes. (How did I get through college without those?) It may have been fiction or non-fiction that I read first, but it made me want to know more.
You have to ask yourself, which end result is better, sharing the puppy or kitten video on Instagram (guilty as charged!) or participating in a conversation about Shakespeare’s contribution to, well, just about everything in literature?
Look Beyond The Books
Reading is not the only entrance to a rabbit hole.
Think of the people you come in contact with and the experiences you have every day. We shouldn’t skip over the introductions and footnotes they offer us.
We need to ask questions and be curious about what our environment has to offer.
It’s up to us to read, ask questions, and try new activities with a purpose. That’s how going down a rabbit hole enhances your life.
My neighborhood connections, daily activities, and hobbies started at the top of a rabbit hole. The deeper I go, the more I increase my knowledge and add to my life.
Whether it’s in a book or your environment, following your curiosity, exploring your world, asking questions, and trying the activities offers you rabbit holes to look into. Don’t settle for what’s on the surface. See what else you can find. New knowledge, different perspectives, and stronger relationships are a result of curiosity and delving deep.
You may not be interested in Abraham Lincoln or Greek mythology, but there is a rabbit hole waiting to lead to unexpected knowledge, places, or people. You just have to choose what to explore.
Just be sure to have a purpose.
7 Days, 7 Thoughts on Gratitude and Good:
I’ve tried reading Alice in Wonderland but found it was not my cup of tea. Which goes to show that not just any rabbit hole suits everyone. You might be interested in reading these facts about Lewis Carroll’s classic. 🍵
The easy path is often the least beneficial, such as scrolling with no purpose. The path with purpose may be more challenging, but it yields more benefits.
This article tells what a real rabbit hole is like. As a child, my first rabbit holes were found in books. 📚
Not everyone likes to read books, and technology does have its positive side. Here are some ideas on how to be more purposeful in social media scrolling.
It’s a good thing that others have left their thoughts in diaries, author’s notes, introduction, and footnotes. In many ways, they are sharing with us their journey down a rabbit hole. ✍️
I am grateful to my husband for suggesting we read Don Quixote. It was the first book I read the introduction to.
It’s a good thing to be adventurous when you spot a rabbit hole that might suit your purpose. You need to open yourself to the possibilities.
Thank you for reading. Watch out for the rabbit holes and check your purpose.
Until next time,
💚
Susan
What rabbit holes have you been down lately? Leave a comment and let me know. I would love to hear about it.
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I have a 2nd newsletter about journaling. It’s a great way to learn about journaling, especially if you are new to the habit. If you are interested or know someone who would be, check it out at From The Pen’s Nib: A Commonplace Book About Journaling.