Chapter One, Take Two: Rewriting My Relationship with Reading
Books were just fancy paperweights in my childhood, until one day, I accidentally joined the secret society of readers—turns out, it wasn’t as boring as I thought!
The Early Years: When Books Were Just Fancy Paperweights
Little ol' me, a kid with more energy than a squirrel on espresso, running around like my pants were on fire. Books? Ha!
Those were just things my nerdy sister and best friend used to avoid actual fun.
While they were lost in Hogwarts or solving make-believe murders, I was out there living my best life, building epic forts and hunting for 'treasure' (aka any shiny rock that caught my eye).
Family Vacations: A Tale of Two Worlds
Family trips were a hoot. I'd be itching to explore every nook and cranny, while my sister made a beeline for the nearest library.
Me: "But we're on vacation!"
Sis: "This IS my vacation."
I swear, that girl's idea of a good time was sniffing old book pages. Me? Well, I was more interested in the picture books. Hey, at least I was in the library, right? Baby steps!
Well, this was bits about my childhood, where my father and sister consistently tried for me to build the habit of reading, while I was busy running a marathon to find my treasures ( aka shiny rocks).
The Sydney Sheldon Incident: My Accidental Literary Affair
Fast forward to 9th grade. There I was, plotting my next cookie heist when my sister ambushed me with a Sydney Sheldon novel. "You'll love it," she insisted, eyes gleaming as she offered me the secret to eternal youth.
I eyed the book suspiciously, but little did I know, this was her last-ditch effort to salvage my reading future. Talk about pressure, right?
Three weeks later (don't judge my turtle-paced reading), I emerged victorious. I, the kid who thought books were just fancy paperweights, had finished a novel. And get this - I kinda liked it! It was like I'd accidentally stumbled into a secret club, and surprisingly, I didn't want to leave.
Who would've thought that my sister's literary Hail Mary would land?
Riding that high, I blazed through three more Sheldon books that summer. Look at me go, using words like 'protagonist' and 'narrative.'
The Great Reading Slump: When Books Became Bedtime Stories (Literally)
Post-Sheldon, every book became a one-way ticket to Snoozeville.
Two pages in, and boom! I'm out like a light. It became a family joke - "Need sleep? Hand her a novel!"
I started to wonder if I was allergic to literature.
Is that a thing? Can you get a doctor's note for that?
The IT Guy: Where Reading Dreams Go to Die (and Code Nightmares Begin)
Enter the glamorous world of IT. Between debugging code, analysing business requirements and downing coffee, who has time for "War and Peace"?
My attention span? Shorter than a goldfish's memory on a bad day.
Motivation to read? Lost somewhere between my overflowing inbox and the office coffee machine.
The Covid Plot Twist: Finding My Reading Groove (Thanks, Global Pandemic!)
Fast forward to 2020. Stuck at home, avoiding news like it was a zombie apocalypse, I picked up a non-fiction book by Simon Sinek.
And guess what? I didn't fall asleep!
I actually read 100 pages in one day. Me! The female who used to doze off after two paragraphs!
The Great Discovery: Turns Out, I'm a Non-Fiction Nerd
Suddenly, I couldn't get enough. It was like someone had flipped a switch in my brain, and now it was hungry for knowledge. Business strategies, Leadership, Building Startups? Bring 'em on! I was devouring books on leadership, building startups etc. Personal development became my new obsession - who knew there were so many ways to level up your life?
And don't even get me started on biographies. Reading about people who had done cool things was like having a front-row seat to the greatest show on Earth, minus the overpriced popcorn.
It was like I had stumbled into a whole new world, a literary Narnia if you will, and this time, I wasn't using it as a pillow. No, sir! I was wide awake, soaking it all in like a sponge that had just discovered water.
The best part? Unlike my brief fling with fiction, this love affair with non-fiction seemed to have staying power. I wasn't just reading; I was learning and growing.
It turns out, my brain wasn't allergic to books after all - it just had a very specific taste in literature. Who would've thought?
Building the Book Habit: Or, How I Trained My Brain to Stay Awake
Here are some of the things I’ve learned, summed up in the infographics below.
The Ongoing Adventure: Still Not Shakespeare, But Getting There
So, here I am, a few years into my reading journey. Am I devouring a book a day? Not quite.
Do I still occasionally use a book as an impromptu pillow? Maybe.
But the important thing is, I'm reading.
And more surprisingly, I'm enjoying it.
Lessons from a Reformed Book Dodger: Top Takeaways
Find Your Flavor: Books are like ice cream - try all the flavors until you find your favorite.
Start Small, Dream Big: Rome wasn't built in a day, and you won't become Hermione Granger overnight.
Make It a Habit: Your brain is like a muscle. Exercise it regularly with books!
Embrace Technology: E-books, audiobooks - whatever floats your boat (or turns your pages).
Don't Be Afraid to Quit: Life's too short for boring books.
Connect with Fellow Readers: Join a book club. It's like a support group, but with more plot twists.
Celebrate Your Wins: Finished a book? Do a happy dance! Read for a week straight? Treat yourself!
Be Patient: Building any habit takes time. You're not going to go from "Green Eggs and Ham" to "War and Peace" overnight.
Remember Your Why: Whether it's to learn, escape, or just have fun, keep your "why" in mind.
Enjoy the Journey: If reading feels like a chore, you're doing it wrong. Take a step back and reassess.
The Final Chapter: To All My Fellow Book Strugglers
Remember, there's no "right" way to be a reader.
Whether you're devouring a book a day or slowly making your way through one book a year, you're still a reader. And that's something to be proud of.
So here's to all of us - the slow readers, the fast readers, the audiobook listeners, the e-book devotees, the paperback lovers. May we all find joy in the written word, in whatever form it takes.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a hot date with a book. And this time, I might even make it past chapter three before nodding off. Wish me luck!