Commentary

The

Book Always

On My

Table By Monick M. Monell, TUV NY Correspondent I am grateful to share a book suggest for 2022, this book that is always on my table. But before I begin sharing my thoughts about the book. I want to implore you to always be kind and gentle to yourself. I initially read this book when I was young and it’s lessons have carried with me into my 40’s and hopefully many more years ahead. “The Giving Tree” written by Shel Silverstein with an illustration in green with an image of a tree and a boy. This book taught me about unselfishness and generosity. Well, that was what I read and felt all the way until a different version of myself appeared in 2022. In my opinion “finding yourself’ comes in many different versions. As I re-read the book, I saw where

boundaries were misplaced. I read how important self-love is and finding the best processes of what works best for you.

Does our giving to others necessarily detracts from how much we can give ourselves?

This year I gained more insight. Different interpretations were depicted by people about this children's book. I started to see the controversy of it all. Was it mother and child? Was it earth and humans? Was it friendships? Does our giving to others necessarily detracts from how much we can give ourselves? There was so much to ask, and I knew all the answers we were seeking may lie within. I want to suggest that I have observed that many of us don’t make a habit of being gentle to ourselves. As I read the “Giving Tree” this time I decided to give it my own ending. My ending sounds like this: “I still had branches and apples and I still was looked upon; I didn't give it all up to be loved. I gave what I could and hoped it was enough, because my being on this earth was just as important.”

Now I can’t say every time you open a book that a revelation will hit you like “BOOM” the second you read it. But I can say take time to get to know yourself because you could possibly be reading your own story. The best part about life is that it is very possible to change the beginning, middle and end.

Is there a book you have in your possession or in your time that taught you morals and had numerous interpretations, both positive and negative?

@BrooklynM

Photo Credit: Amber Chau