I have always loved books and reading. The problem is, I rarely found a book I loved. I went for years without reading a book. When I did find one I liked, I would read and read for hours.
I rediscovered reading last year. How do you ask? One word…BookTok. Yes, it’s a whole section of TikTok where people talk about the books they love. I also love Bookagram. That’s on Instagram.
Before I found these social media communities, I was lost as to my reading direction. I would go to Barnes and Noble and wander around aimlessly, never quite finding anything that grabbed me. I felt like a wannabe book enthusiast…in the struggle.
Then came my social media scrolling, where I happened upon people talking about books. Inspired, I sought out several titles that intrigued me. As I read more, my obsession with books grew. There’s something about discovering great stories at my age (50-plus, not 30). My life experience, combined with my love of a good story, has rekindled my passion for reading.
I’m a bit of a chaotic reader to be sure. I get bored with one book and start another. It’s not uncommon for me to have several books in the process at a time. I’m definitely not bragging about this or even recommending my habits, just giving you an idea of my “reading personality”.
As the year went on, I just kept buying books. I love bookstores and everything about reading. Slowly, I lost interest in watching movies or shows. I really prefer to read. As a former show enthusiast, this is quite a surprise! I have a loft area at the top of the stairs that used to just be a mess with a few desks. I got the vision of turning it into a library. Luckily, my husband loves a good project and got right on it. We planned it and executed the vision. I now have a great library in my home that I love.
What I love about my new passion for reading is that it’s a way to live a thousand different lives. The opportunity to see life through other people’s eyes. To feel less alone as you read about others living through things you have. Reading is a great escape as well, and very soothing to your nervous system. I’m enchanted by the places I’ve been through my books. If you haven’t picked up a book in a while, comment below, and I’ll suggest a few.