Operation Read More Books

If you're going to be sick for many many days, a reading challenge isn't a bad idea...

For a very long time, I have struggled with curbing my (call it what it is) addiction to social media. I've tried any number of different strategies/ disciplines -- short of deleting my accounts altogether -- and still I tend to fall back into the struggle. What I've realized, is that I not only need some disciplines to help with my problem, I also have to have something to replace that addiction/ time filler/ distraction. So, at the start of the new year, I had decided to make it a goal to read more books. 

As a young girl, I devoured books. I remember the "bookworm" my first grade teacher had us create, and the many circles I proudly filled out with completed titles to add to the growing caterpillar on the wall. I loved to read. Marriage and children curbed that love quite a bit. I am notorious for not being able to stop reading a book until it is finished, and reading into the wee hours or losing myself in a story for half a day didn't mix too well with mothering. 

Then the era of the internet came along, and my reading turned from books, to blog posts and short snippets online. Reading a short post while nursing my babies was perfect, and I followed many blogs for a number of years. I found a lot of encouragement and inspiration from those ladies I followed. Gradually, blog posts have dwindled on the accounts that I follow, and my online reading has consisted more and more of scrolling social media. I still find a lot of encouragement and inspiration but there is also a tremendous amount of "filler". I've realized lately, how much this diet has affected my concentration and attention span. I am so used to grabbing little mouth fulls, that it has actually become difficult for me to sit with a book and immerse myself. 

Hence, the goal to read more books. 

The past few years, Daughters of Promise has done a "Brighter Winter Reading Program" for the months of January and February. This year, I decided to sign up and download their reading grids. I did it more for some inspiration and creative reading ideas than for any prizes or competition. 

I have a long way to go to be the eager first grader filling out caterpillar circles (not so sure that's even my goal, honestly) and I'll never be one of the big time readers with all the lists of authors and books to be read, but Brighter Winter has definitely been a fun boost toward my goal of reading more in 2022.

On another note, it has indeed been a long week of sickness at this house that continues to drag on and on. Any must read suggestions I should put on my reading list?