I failed the class because I spent all my time reading books on the subject.

I was not excited about taking the required natural sciences course. It seemed to be the least of all the other evil options, and I figured it would be an easy class. I assumed the sustainability professor, would be a tree-hugging, granola-eating, hippie, suggesting the solution to the earth's woes, was to kill all the humans.

The course had an outsized impact on my life. Through the course, I learned about sustainable farming practices. How the farmer plants, harvests crops and lets the soil recover, has a significant impact on the quality of the crop, soil erosion, and the final profits.

The building's orientation on the land can influence the heating and cooling requirement. Strategic window placement and shades can make use of natural light throughout the year at no additional cost. Use of local building materials reduces the transportation burden and can lower construction costs.

These concepts were more about using design and resources wisely, and less about eradicating the humans.

Shortly after starting the online class; I spent all my free time reading anything within this previously ignored genre. Sadly, I lost my primary focus, went a bit too far, ignored the classroom assignments, and failed the class.

Following the course, I took a year break from school to learn and study this new world. You would have thought a thirty-something, working full-time, and paying for the class would know better. If you shake your head in bewilderment and say "some people's children," you would be right. The class was a breeze the second time around. I never found out if either professor were hippies, liked granola or had recently embraced a tree.

This unplanned excursion brought much joy as I learned these "new" concepts, ancient people groups had been using for thousands of years.

What are your genre trigger stories? 

Going Further: Do those involved know about this impact on your reading habits? It may be time to bring them in on the story and thank them. How are these genre's still represented on your reading list? What trigger story caused you to stop reading a genre? How do these changes encourage you about having a growth mindset?