In the July 2024 Present Time I described how I divided the January 2024 Present Time into weekly reading segments. I did this to make it easier to read for me and my Present Time Book Club members (Co-Counselors who agree to support each other around reading Present Time). 


Then I lost steam [motivation] for my Present Time reading project. I did reach out to one of my Present Time Book Club members. However, the person did not respond to my one text message, and I gave up [stopped trying]. It’s an example of how half-hearted my attempts to get help sometimes are. It’s also a symptom of my struggle to read Present Time because of my distress recordings of defeat and discouragement. 


Present Time is full of wonderful, inspiring stories that can be good for getting one’s attention out [away from distress]. It also challenges us to face the climate crisis, our oppressor patterns [distresses], and other difficult things. It’s printed in black and white on newsprint in a world full of colorful, distracting screens. Because of distress from past hurts, reading Present Time can feel like a slog [hard work] even though the information is vital, the theory is revolutionary, and the writers, photographers, artists, and editors are my beloved Community. 


Also, reading is often something we are expected to do alone; there isn’t always someone immediately available to give us a Co-Counseling session when we feel the pull [pattern] to give up. 


What’s exciting is that there is always a new issue of Present Time coming out—a new chance to try again. This time I hope to persist in asking for sessions if reading it gets difficult. I hope you will join me in doing this. It’s a new day. We can literally “turn a new page.” 


Happy reading!