selena sprout

The newest Gate Notes, 5 memoirs that shaped my own, he wrote:

I feel like I’m always learning, but I really go into serious learning mode when I’m starting out on a new project. In the early days of Microsoft, I read a ton about technology companies, and as I was starting the Gates Foundation, I researched the history of American philanthropy.

“Read a ton” books, he did. Books change our lives and bring to life so many ordinary individuals. Facing a new transition phase in my life, I read so many books and learn different courses to just learn and see a bigger picture everyday now. At the moment, I am reading more books written by female writers. One of those is “The Art of Holding Space: A Practice of Love, Liberation, and Leadership”. The first time I heard about the term “holding space” was a few years ago, but I have not learned or read about it. I wish I had learned it sooner.

It is quite weird that I should read something to build a better future as I acknowledge that I am in a big transition phase, but returning back and relearning the core values I always believe are also very important tasks at the moment. Noel asked me when we were walking in Dún Laoghaire yesterday (the name is an Irish name, if you are curious about its pronunciation, here you are) what I am doing at the moment. I honestly told him that I am (re)learning to be a better person and love myself and people better.

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I always feel that I am hungry for knowledge. Most of my free time here in Ireland and in Vietnam, I am always in the mood of learning or reading something. This is the joy I can not express through any words. I love the sense and the mood when I am reading. My answer if anyone asks me what are you doing this weekend: I go to the library. Nobody can deny that knowledge brings us so much we can not say.

The first thing I bought when I had my own money was a book. Books are not something I can access easily when I was little, but now they are becoming easier for me. Since I decided to read books on Kindle, I read quicker and read wider as there are many free resources for e-book. Some friends asked me if it was worth it to read a book on Kindle, and my answer is Yes. I am living in different temporary houses, carrying heavy textbooks is not a good option, therefore Kindle allows me to have lighter luggage. I never feel bored if I have to wait, if I have a book, I can wait for hours, devouring books whenever I get the chance.

Every time I go to the library, I always feel it is so fresh. Walking across one by one book stands, I always have a feeling that wow the world is so big and wonderful, there are so many things here humans have been exploring and my knowledge is so small. It is always the same as the first time, I love the the faint smell of ink and paper. I never feel that I am “behind” any book lovers, even if I have the opportunity to access book resources quite late. I am not in a rush and feel I need to read as much as I can.

Yesterday, we also visited two book shops. I stopped buying a new physical book, but still love visiting any book shops I pass by. I often grab a book, scan and peruse quickly to see if it is worth reading. If it sounds nice, I will take a photo of the cover. Right when I get back home, I add this book on my Goodread bookshelves. Buying a book experience like going grocery shopping, some books are so poorly-written prose with attractive artistic cover, some are truly beautiful and some are only beautiful with their layout and cover design. There are many a first-time authors now, but it is hard to find a nice book to read, one of book did not meet my expectation recently as a product of well-strategic marketing team is “Raising Hare”, I can not finish it as the story is disconnected and sometimes feel like the author was trying to finish the book, I have a sense of make-up moments in this memoir. But I have not written a review on Goodread as I only write a book review if I finish it.

This weekend, while scrolling Youtube, I saw the video below: How a Sydney Couple shares their home as a Library, Shop & Social Space, 60sqm/646sqft

A loving couple with different color personal themes built a beautiful multi-functional and share-spaced house. It has been such a long time since I saw a Youtube video that gives me a sense of heart-warming. I can feel and sense the love of the couples for each other and for their beautiful home. The joy is fulfilled in their voices and their eyes. The idea of sharing their private space with the community is so brilliant. I am so happy while watching their house tour. A tiny space with a “tiny” budget, the world is always enough for everyone’s dream. I feel a push to write down in my secret notebook about my ideal life and my (very first-time bucket list) as I always imagine that there will be a public library in my house one day. It will be an open space to invite everyone to come and read books, that will have a small shop as well as I am thinking to have my own business in the future.

While writing this post, I remember when I had some old friends to share books we were reading at the moment. I can not deny that I have less book-lovers friends, it is true to me and for the world at the moment. I hope there are more people who love reading books. I just found out that Dublin has many different book clubs. I am pondering finding one and joining shortly. My new living place now is a bit inconvenient to public transportation, then I turn out to be lazy. It is a time to find a community, meet new like-minded friends and socialize.

Last week, I had my very first holiday in Scotland, the UK. I have never been to such a beautiful landscape in my life. This trip was an unexpected plan that turned out to be the most memorable and unforgettable trip I have so far. Thanks to the tour operator, we stopped in different unusual and offbeat destinations. I was so astonished and lucky about the weather, it was truly beautiful and comfortable, everything was like in the heaven. During the trip, while I was in awe and blown away by everything I was seeing, I remembered the beautiful books I read. I feel they bring me here, observing the stunning landscape I always imagine. Although this is not the Swiss Alps, all the things I imagined while reading Heidi were in front of my eyes. A sunlit sky, lush green meadows under the sun of the summer, mountain sheep and Scottish cows on the grass, the breeze on my skin, standing there and drinking in all its beauty, I was truly delighted, over the moon. And, the most UK-author book I love, the Watership Down, I can picture things I read when I was here in the UK. When our mini-coach crossed the countryside, I feel like I see rabbits running on the hills. Or, standing on the hills and looking down the Hogwarts Express passing by the Glenfinnan Viaduct bridge, it is so unreal to me as I was in a cloud of happiness. When reading these books, I never wish to see them in real life but I was there. Life is full of blessings and unexpected opportunities, once again, books bring me to the place I am today. I will remember what I saw in this trip forever.

I also found the most beautiful tree I see in the world – the England oak tree. I just feel so happy when I stand under its shade. It is not surprise to me as England oak is also national tree in the UK. Before I moved to Ireland, the sustainability group I am an active member in Vietnam gave me a gift, oak leaf and acorn in a necklace. The gift is more special to me now.