I like to go shopping often. Do I have a shopping addiction? Absolutely. However, I still find joy in hopping from store to store on weekends without spending a penny. I just enjoy getting out and seeing the new things that stores have to offer — even the grocery store. This past weekend, my boyfriend and I went on a trip to Christiansburg and simply looked around with no urge to buy anything. He really likes to look around Barnes and Noble and so do I, so that was our last stop of the day.
I bought a single book to read before spring break, so I would have entertainment outside of my phone. I ended up finishing it in four days, which impressed me considering it’s been quite a while since I bought a book for my own enjoyment — let alone read the whole thing. Long story short, I went to Barnes and Noble last weekend and left with three books, one of them being the sequel to my book from spring break.
Was I in the mood to spend $35 that day, especially on books? Not really. Did it excite me knowing that I was buying things that would truly benefit me in multiple ways? Definitely. We don’t realize how helpful reading can be for us. I, like many others now, am struggling to stay motivated with my everyday responsibilities like work, school and chores. I spend a lot of time on my phone mindlessly scrolling instead of doing things that would improve my current situation.
That mindless scrolling constantly has me feeling the need to buy specific things just because I see everyone else with them. With books, I get to escape to a different world and focus on somewhere other than where I am, even just for a few minutes. I don’t think about what society likes and dislikes currently or what everyone else is posting on Instagram. I get to leave reality and come back to my day with a fresher mind that’s less weighted by what everyone else is doing. Through reading, I’ve become more centered on my wants and needs as a person. I’m more aware of the things that are bad for me, like my bad habits, and can work towards improving them.
I can’t promise how long I’ll stay in this headspace, but I believe if I set a goal to read a certain number of books by the end of the year, I’ll be more successful. Right now, my goal is 10. It’s a challenging goal, considering I’m just now reading my second book, and it’s the middle of April. I think I can do it though.
I’ve wanted to be “that girl” when it came to reading for a while now, and it feels good to start that path. It’ll be a nice way to reset this summer before real life takes off. For those thinking about starting to read again, know that it’s all at your own pace. You can start out with a small goal of five books in a year, if that’s what is easiest for you. Progress is progress, big or small. Until then, let me get back to my book; I think I’m getting to the best part.
