reading?
Today’s question is: Why does spending the day reading make me feel guilty?
Background: I always feel like I have limited time to read. Reading is the one luxury I rarely allow myself. It makes me feel guilty. Why you ask? Because in order to read all day you have to ignore every other thing in your world, everything.
I ignore:
my kids
the dishes
the laundry
packing for my week long trip
my husband
my dog
the toilets that need scrubbing
vacuuming
scrubbing the floors on my hands and knees
eating real meals
my garden
Reading can really get in the way. But when the book is worth it, well then some of the guilt falls away.
Saturday, I really wanted to finish _The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo_ by Stieg Larsson. I read all day and I still don’t understand how on earth I was able to get packed for my trip, make my husband a batch of meatballs to eat while the kids and I deserted him, and make dinner. But I did it. Of course, I had 40 pages left when I passed out that night and I didn’t have time in the morning to finish the book before the flight, so I had to lug the book with me. Now I’ve picked up the next one _The Girl Who Played With Fire_ in the airport and so far it’s really, really good! No guilt on this trip!
Shakespeare said it best:
"To thine own self be true."
Of many interpretations, I go with taking care of your self first. If you are healthy (physically and mentally), you are then best able to take care of the other things and people in your life.
Readeth thee on without guilt. Taketh thee care of thine owne number one.
Enjoyeth some "mee time" and all will benefit.
Comment by SC — August 3, 2010 @ 5:14 am
I feel the same way C… I end up reading late at night when the kids are in bed and I really should be asleep. If the book is good then I'm screwed the next morning getting up for work!
Comment by Becky — August 3, 2010 @ 8:10 am