It is October. We have two more months left in 2017. There is so much more to read and worlds to explore. Earlier in the year I told you all about completing my reading challenge, which I was very excited about. Since then I have read more books and I just bought a few more to finish out the year.

I just finished reading 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. Originally assigned as part of a class, I did not have much expectations about the material going in. I had heard about the book as well as his other books throughout the years, but I had never read it. As I began reading the book, I connected with what he was saying and started to look at it as less of a required reading text, and more as a good addition to my growing library. This book is not a quick fix problem solver, the concepts presented in the book are not new or inspired by the latest self help logic. The 7 habits are based on fundamental principles from years ago. Covey did not come up with these principles himself. Reading this book has helped me look at change and the process of change in a new light. Effective personal change will require more of me than just smiling and having a positive attitude. I will need to continually look deep within myself and re-evaluate my deepest thoughts and feelings. It won’t happen over night or within the course of this semester, it will take considerable time and effort. This is a book I will go back to again and again.

Now that I finished this book, I can start reading the other books I bought. I finally bought The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas which I am really excited to read. They are also turning it into a major motion picture in the coming year. It will most likely be my next read. I bought Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue, a 2017 Oprah Book Club selection, Lucky Boy by Shanthi Sekaran, and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, which was made into an HBO film earlier this year starring Oprah & Rose Byrne.

I also got some free books from my school’s book giveaway. I may read one this year, might save them for next year. Going After Cacciato by Tim O’Brien, author of The Things They Carried, Plainsong by Kent Haruf, Hard Times by Charles Dickens, and Midaq Alley by Naguib Mahfouz.

As we close out the year, I look forward to reading and possibly reviewing these books.

In other news, America is still being flushed down the drain by 45. We might be on the verge of a war and if we survive we can tell our kids it all started with a tweet. There was another mass shooting, this time in Las Vegas, that killed 58 people. Still no gun control legislation, but that is because the current administration was too busy blaming Puerto Rico for a hurricane, rolling back protections for Trans individuals, and eliminating birth control from employer health plans, but at least they had time to send (tweet) thoughts and prayers.

Music wise, Sam Smith will be releasing his second album, The Thrill of It All on November 3 and I intend to purchase it. Beyonce had twins, remixed a song in Spanish and sent the proceeds to Puerto Rico. Cardi B got the number one spot on Billboard for “Bodack Yellow” beating out Taylor Swift’s “Look What U Made Me Do,” the Black delegation rejoiced.

From my TV screens, TGIT has returned in full force, Amelia has a brain tumor, Olivia is finally at the top of the food chain and more like Eli Rowan than she cares to admit, and Annalise got her license back while firing the Keating 5 and Bonnie. Queen Sugar returned for their mid season premiere with Kofi still fine as ever, Lucious has memory loss on Empire, Star and the crew are still turning out bops but cannot for the life of them get it together outside the booth, we still do not know for sure how Jack died on This Is Us, and everyone can say with absolute certainty that white folks are indeed crazy as evident from AHS Cult.

We have two months left, only God know what will happen in that time. Happy October and enjoy your Pumpkin Spice Lattes.