Hello hello, and welcome to Episode 37 of Life On the Brink!
I know that September can be a strange month. It's still pretty hot where I live, but the cozy fall vibes are coming on so strong, and most of our schedules have shifted in some way over the past few weeks. But while we're in this time of seasonal transition, what better time to incorporate something new and lovely into your life and schedule? That thing that we're talking about today, my dears, is reading.
I can now confidently say that I am a bookworm once again. Now, if you've listened along this year, you know that I have been kind of on a reading journey for maybe the past year or so, especially in 2021, but I am proud to announce that I've accomplished, and even surpassed, my reading goal for this year! I've fallen back in love with books and with reading, and what used to feel like a pressure now feels like a delight. I so enjoy the treasure trove that books have brought back into my life, and it's another new part of my life to enjoy.
Perhaps, like me, you've fallen out of touch with this part of yourself, but would like to become a self-proclaimed "reader" again? Today I'll be sharing my own personally reading story, as well as some ways to help incorporate this habit and hobby back into your life, or even for the first time!
First, let's discover why some people seem to just love reading all their lives:
-If you grow up reading, you're more likely to keep reading. In my research to try to implement reading into my routine, a lot of what I found was centered toward children, particularly raising children as avid readers. A child that grows up around books, in libraries, and with "reading times" is more likely to read in their adulthood. (But as I'll mention, my situation had a bit of a hurdle)
-Your disposition can draw you in. Some people are just more likely to be drawn in, sometimes romantically, into the world of books. But even if you're not an introverted Ravenclaw, smelling the new pages at each turn, you can still love reading!
-This is the big one, I think. Once you form a habit, it's there, it's part of your day-to-day life. This is the part that we can adjust and work on, and it the crux of what I'll be sharing today.
My history with reading...
When I was a child, I couldn't get my hands on enough books. I would pick a series and read as many as possible. I would sit in the library, scanning the shelves for interesting titles, reading dozens of summaries and finding the most fascinating stories. Even the literature selections I had to read for high school were fascinating to me. (That becomes the difficulty with a lot of people, I think. We have to read for school, so we begin to think of reading as an academic activity, rather than something to enrich our lives beyond). I was a well-read child, but there was a different kind of hurdle that I would face in my college years.
It was time, or rather a lack thereof. I simply had no time do to anything other than study, practice, compose, eat, work, and sleep, and oftentimes a few of those fell through the cracks. At that time, to read for pleasure would have almost felt like a careless use of time, rather than something that would soothe and stimulate my mind and imagination. By the time I graduated with my music degree in 2018 (Summa Cum Laude, so it paid off in my mind), I had completely lost the habit of reading. I would spend the next couple of years trying to get it back.
In January 2019 I made a goal for myself to read 15 books by the end of the year. It didn't happen. I made the same goal in 2020, and again fell short of that number. It was only in 2021 that I finally accomplished this (I'm on #17 as of now). Now I'm up to date on new releases and authors, I enjoy community and conversations about books, and, best of all, walking through a library no longer feels like a stressful experience, but one that fills me with excitement and possibility. So what changed?
Here are some things that helped me reach this reading goal and recapture my long-lost love of reading:
1. Like any goal, I recommend sharing this new goal with others. Tell those close to you that you are trying a new thing, as it will not only provide you with support and accountability, but will also change the way you talk (and think) about yourself.
2. Find out what you love to read. Maybe you didn't jive with those classics you had to read in high school; it doesn't mean you won't like any book. You don't have to start out with dense, classical literature for reading to be worthwhile. There are so many books for every kind of reader on any subject, it's only a matter of finding it.
3. Re-read what you loved when you were young. If you, like me, loved reading as a child, why not go back and re-experience those books? A good story is a good story, and you might find more from that author or that genre that you love.
4. Join (or start) a book club. Not only is this great for keeping you on track for short-term goals, but it can also stretch you in your book selection. Talking about books is so so fun when you have a community that enjoys the same kind of stories as you, and even if you can't find one to join in person, you can always join an online book club, or even start your own!
5. Track what you've read, and what you want to read. I LOVE using Goodreads, it's an app just for books: book reviews, books by author, saving books categorically, tracking reading challenges, tracking progress by page number (!), literally everything you could want when it comes to books. Of course, you can always do this with a journal, as well, just writing down books that you want to read, and ones that you've read this year.
6. Find community or creators that promote books you like. There's a section of Youtube known as "Booktube," and it's filled with book reviews, book hauls, bookstore vlogs, you name it. I love seeing how others incorporate reading into their routines, and even the act of reading becomes romanticized in my mind. It's made me aware of a community of people that truly love to read, and has been a constant source of inspiration when it comes to new books to read. Here are some of my very favorites:
-Morgan Long (just wonderful, I support her Patreon and love the book club there)
-Christy Anne Jones (lots of fantasy and interesting authors)
-Darling Desi (very aesthetic and beautiful)
-Jack Edwards (TONS of book reviews)
-emmie (lots of classic literature)
And just like that (meaning, over the course of 2 years lol), I have welcomed reading back into my life with open arms. I hope this has been helpful to you, maybe even inspiring a bit of book love as we head slowly into the autumn months. It's been such a delight for me, and I wish the same for you!
For some more inspiration, check out these two videos:
This Week’s Little Joy: I got my first fenestrated (meaning it has holes) on my monstera plant! This is a big deal for me because I raised this plant from a cutting given to me by my friend a little over 2 years ago, and now it's reached a level of maturity that its newest leaf had the characteristic fenestrations of a monstera. So proud!
What I’m Listening To: The newest album by Pomplamoose, called Impossible À Prononcer. It's sung entirely in French, and the whole album just feels French, while still sounding like this very fresh, unique band. I love it.
Thank you so much for listening! If you have any book recommendations, please leave a comment. I'm always looking for more books to add to my list. Until next time, have a lovely week, friends!