Permission to Read

I am the anti-resolutionist, as you may know from this blog post. It's ok. I've been called worse. I was waffling about what changes, if any, I'd like to make in my life.

I have decided. January is now officially my Permission to Read month. After work, and things a person must do to keep home and hearth from completely falling apart, I have given myself guilt-free permission to . . . read. Just read. Happy sigh.

This sounds rather anti-climactic unless you know my secret: as a child, I used to fantasize about being locked in the library all night, or ecstasy - all weekend! Just me and tons of books. I love their smell, I love their feel, I love the worlds they spin around me. I adore a well-turned sentence. I took books camping, babysitting and spent much of my elementary school years surreptitiously reading my own books hidden by the cover of whatever school texts I was supposed to be reading, or half-hidden in my desk. And sadly, it has been several years since I have felt I had the time to read for pleasure.

This Permission to Read month will do several things for me: 1. make me a better writer and sharpen my brain just by reading others' well-turned sentences and plots; 2. bring me sanity, relaxation and pleasure - all of which are much needed; and 3. give me some breathing space to think.

That's my rationalization. But really, it's all pleasure.

Lethargy

I am seized with lethargy. On this gorgeous, low humidity, breezy, sunny day, it is all I can do this afternoon to curl up on the sofa with a book or three. If I were a cat or a dog, I'd be lying on the floor snoring in a sliver of sunshine.

I admit I got a few hours of work done this morning. But then . . . nothing. Why this lethargic malaise that has hit me like a cement mixer full of thick, wet cement gushed over me, seeping into every pore? Maybe a human has a limit to how much they can keep pushing. Maybe chronic worry and stress works like wet cement in your brain and body after a time. Maybe this slightly sore throat I'm trying to simultaneously deny and treat has a hand in it. I don't know.

Sleepy Puppy Labrador Retriever Greeting Cards by artinphotography
Shop for a greeting card on zazzle.com

All I know is that I feel like I can hardly move. And it has been months since the last time I curled up on the sofa and read some good books. Today I read some middle grades books I've been meaning to:  

I LOVE Avi's books

and

What super writing

And I enjoyed it. Wonderful writing both inspires me and makes me feel that all is right with the world. Maybe tomorrow I will have more energy.

My Samson - not a high energy dog. I'm at his pace today.

 

Sleeping Dogs French Bulldog Mousepad by artinphotography
Browse Dogs Mousepads

Then again, I DID just get a blog post written . . . 

Now back to the sofa with another book.