My name is Kaci Pak, and my life would be nothing without stories. From fables to novels to memoirs to essays, every single life I've lived through the minuscule words on a page have contributed to the person I am today, and the one I am continuously growing into. Stories hold power, and the more I read and dissect them, the more I realize that the greatest ability --or strength-- an individual can hold is knowledge. No book is perfect; in fact, the best narratives are ones that are of a subjective nature, which can be evaluated and either agreed or disagreed upon. We all want to hear what is most reassuring or convenient, but in reality I learned that the truth is the greatest lesson anyone can gain. To see and understand reality at face value is something I am always reaching towards, and through both fictional and non-fictional stories, I become closer with each read. I recognize the contradiction within such a statement; reading fictional tales or stories of strangers will help me understand more about my personal self? Yes, it will. The primary reason is because no answer will reveal itself so easily without any challenge on the part of the individual. In actuality, there never is one right answer or solution at all, only the conclusion one develops from their own experience and reflection. We live in a world that is always trying to tell us who we should be and who we can't, but life is not as simple as that. Which is why stories, education and, perspectives --words that are all different, but hold parallel meanings to me-- are fundamental to my being and who I strive to be as the lessons I gain through pages translate to my real life.
When choosing my next read, I always begin by identifying the context to which a book has set itself in. I intentionally try to diversify my reads, not just through genres but the historical and philosophical stance the main character or author is taking. From the country, time period, and point of view, all of these aspects are just as significant as the plot. This is due to the fact that the past, present, and hypothesized future cannot be erased. As aforementioned, perceiving reality can be fickle and morphed into whatever the human minds wants it to be. However, if we intentionally try to uncover the truth against our personal biases and desires, the closer we are to fulfillment in our lives because the blinding glare of self-sabotaging deception can be overcome.
Likewise relationships hold a significant weight within my personal values. Although you cannot gain a tangible, human connection simply by reading books, there is still much to learn about relationships from the act of consuming stories in itself. In a sense, you form a relationship with the book you are reading, and once the story is over, the decision of whether that book continues to impact your life is up to the experience you gained throughout. Narratives that simply give momentary entertainment are fun yet hold no value in the bigger picture are not worthless, but they aren't something to actively seek either. Relationships such as these are important to have as we grow and learn more about ourselves, but the ones that we cultivate and foster over time are the ones that actually hold the most value, such as the moral and philosophical lessons I have gathered from books such as Pachinko, Just Kids, and The Pearl, that have stuck with me long after I turned the last page. Mutual respect, trust, and support are non-negotiable factors in permanent connection.
These are all lessons that I have learned through a simple hobby that has now translated into an all-encompassing passion to always stay curious and seek for more. I want to understand, but also to question. I want to read both "good" books and "bad" books, as the most informative lessons are found through versatility and appraisal.