When I was a kid, I would look forward to book fairs and library time as much as recess. During lectures, I would sneak some reading time and await a new book each evening. There was something magical about losing myself into the realm and distant worlds of the stories. The plot arcs, the way I was able to depict the appearance of each character, there was so much to appreciate about this hobby.
When I went to college, there was something palpably "uncool" about reading for fun, so I shelved this habit in an attempt to fit in. After all, I was a small fish in a big pond, and the last thing I wanted was a hobby that seemed to isolate me further.
Fast forward four years, I felt even more lost. I was drowning in a sea of confusion post-college, and the last thing on my mind was re-igniting this hobby. My passion for wellness came a few years later, and so too did my desire for further education. You might be thinking "was this the catalyst for reading?" I regrettably did not re-initiate this hobby when I went back to school. My faulty logic had to do with the "required reading" that was assigned to me, and my laser-focus on enhancing my level of knowledge within a sea of information.
A few months ago, I stumbled upon one of those little free libraries down the block. I thought to myself, "I could easily return it in a few days." With the lack of bandwidth I already had in my day-to-day life, how could I possibly incorporate a new hobby? I started by reading one chapter a day. That felt simple enough, and allowed me to wade in slowly. I didn't want to put any pressure on reading the book, and before long, I would crave that new chapter each day. Even though I wanted to continue, I also knew my focus was to build this habit going before increasing the load.
Fast forward to today. I've changed my one chapter a day rule, and there are weekends where I will devour a full book. A few months ago, I would have scoffed at the idea of incorporating this hobby within my tight schedule. Now? I'm an unabashed reader with a penchant for expanding my horizons.
The key is making time to read. That's something I struggle with. Thanks for the reminder!