by Krysta Gibson 

It’s time for a confession. I am an avid reader and have read or skimmed thousands of books over the past 26 years or so. If I actually read a nonfiction book, I do so with pen or highlighter in hand. I’ve done this since grade school, I think. 

There are people who would cringe if they could see inside my favorite books that have been read more than once.

Sometimes I used different colored highlighters each time I read the book and sometimes I wrote in the margins, used pen or pencil. 

The reason I do this is because when I underline or highlight something I am reading it makes a bigger impression on my mind. Plus when I read the book a second or third time, I find it fascinating to see what impressed me the first time around. 

I think this is something useful to do and I realize we can do this with our daily lives as well. What thoughts, people, events do you want to underline or highlight in your life? What are the things you want to take note of, want to deepen your experience of, or don’t want to forget?

Find a way to highlight or underline these mentally. Perhaps put a circle of light around them or maybe a border of flowers. Find a way to mentally take note of the really important ideas, people, and events that you meet during your day.

Some people use this idea by keeping a gratitude or gain journal, writing down everything they are thankful for or the things they have manifested. This is based on the idea of what we focus on we get more of. Highlight more of what you enjoy in your life and see if this doesn’t attract even more of the same.

No, don’t do this in other people’s books or in library books – that’s just plain rude. But if you own the book, don’t worry about the resale value. Don’t worry about other people seeing what you highlight. Just go for it and see if it doesn’t help you learn better.