Keep Reading!
Just quoting Queen Camilla
In early 2020, I sat in my armchair reading book after book, hiding until later in the afternoon when we opened our windows, hit metal pots, and cheered for those risking their lives for us close by at Mount Sinai West Hospital. When I needed a break, I watched dozens of musicians getting together to do jam sessions, listened to webinars to learn about things I never thought about, and took exercise classes, all on Zoom.
I had started the Lehman Brothers Women’s Network Book Club a couple of years before Lehman’s demise. It occurred to me we could use Zoom instead of a conference room at 399 Park Avenue for our meetings. Through LinkedIn, I reached out to the 1000 members of the Lehman Brothers Women’s Network, and announced the rebirth of our Book Club. We have been meeting monthly for the past six years.
Queen Camilla visited the main branch of the New York Public Library yesterday. I was one of the multitude of New York residents entranced with the Royals, their grace, their kindness, and their willingness to provide a brief respite from the chaos our country is experiencing. Thank you! We so needed your visit, as a reminder of what is possible.
On this morning’s Today Show, Jenna Bush Hager shared her walk through the New York Public Library with Queen Camilla who founded the Queen’s Reading Room including a book club during Covid! I encourage everyone to go to the Queens Reading Room website, where you can see the Queen wearing jeans, sitting on some steps, reading a book.
Jenna asked Queen Camilla what her message would be. She said, “Keep Reading”. I am happy to spread her words via Substack. Jenna reported there have been studies in the UK focused on the effect reading has on stress. The results: it calms us to a great degree within a few minutes!
As the months pass quickly by toward the July 4th 250th birthday of our amazing country, please read as much as you can to determine the truth (it’s hard to come by these days), to become more calm, and because writers more than ever need your support.