I completed 90 books in 2019. If that’s a staggering number to you, I recommend you take my free 5-day challenge to read more books!
While I didn’t hit my goal of 100 books in 2019 (and didn’t match the 103 I read in 2018), I’m content with that number.
We had a lot of life happen in 2019 with homeschooling, foster care, pregnancy loss, and -ahem- video games. 90/100 is still an A in my book.
These books were all new to me in 2019. If I included rereads, this would’ve been more like top 30!
The beginning of this year was a roller coaster for me. Extreme highs contrasted with extreme lows.
One day I was on top of the world.
My business was keeping me busy. We had a packed social calendar. And after years of infertility, we were pregnant again!
Then we suffered a miscarriage and lost the twins.
Grief sapped my energy. Depression steals your personality. I was trapped in my thoughts, unable to focus on the hobby I once loved.
I had to find a foothold and grapple my way up Depression Mountain, through the Vale of Tears, and get back to myself.
The journey has changed me in countless ways. But I’m so glad to have reading back. Here are 7 ways to shake the cobwebs and jump back into reading.
2017’s reading list had 17 minutely researched, considered, and chosen titles. But I only finished half.
I read lots of other books: new recommendations, book-club picks, and old favorites. My interests evolved. Many of the books I wanted to check out from the library (or purchase) I never got around to. I also give myself full permission to quit books, so that kicked a few off the list.
Our days are short. Don’t waste your time, attention, and emotional energy on a book you don’t like.
With libraries, indie bookstores, Amazon prime, and the rise of self-published eBooks, we have never been more spoiled for choice. If a book isn’t meeting your needs, you can get the same or better content from another title. Never feel guilty for passing on a book.
I left formal education 5 years ago. Pregnancy (or maybe the sleep deprivation afterward) turned my brain to mush for a time. While I still loved reading, everything I read floated off into the ether. If it wasn’t written down, it was promptly forgotten.
I don’t know about you, but school supplies make my heart go pitter-patter. I’m an organizer, a record-keeper, and a list-maker to my core. Recently I’ve gathered all my little scrap sheets, and organized them into a unified binder.
This is a Seven Quick Takes post, so I’ll get onto the good stuff {there are free downloadable sheets for you too!}
I’m learning to trust, but neglected reading time. January was off-balance, but a little focus (and a lot of Jesus) can bring everything back together.