Read a Book and Slow Down
Throughout this blog post, you’ll find inspiring quotes about books, living your dreams, and never giving up. Because I think we all need those reminders, from time to time.
Life is often overwhelmingly busy. But, even though time can still fly when immersed in a good book, one thing I love about reading is the way it invites us to slow down and stop worrying.
Think about it: you might feel rushed, or like you have to work as fast and as hard as you can for much of the day. On top of that, there may be something out of your control that you’re working towards, but that requires patience. I’ve never been particularly good at waiting for something, especially when it’s something I want with all my heart.
Enter a good book. It’s a fabulous way to focus on just one thing, while also giving your body time to rest.
For me, taking care of the kids, the pets, the house and meals is a full time job that feels like I’ve run a marathon at the end of every day, so sitting down for reading time feels amazing once the kids are asleep. It’s a treat, a gift to allow for time that isn’t “productive,” yet is as worthy as anything else I do for how rewarding it is to simply read.
I’ve been querying agents with my novel, and now that I’ve got a batch of submissions out, it’s time to wait, and write, and edit/revise my next project. (Update, no love on the query front, but I’ve got another manuscript that I’m even more excited about, and it’s almost ready to go! Yay!)
As a writer, I’m working on growing a thick skin, because it’s not an easy thing to be rejected yet that’s the name of the game. Even bestselling authors often had dozens of rejections before getting their break when an agent finally saw their genius and said, “Yes!”
Reading these authors who have done it before me, I get to enjoy their writing, study their craft, and escape the worries and cares of daily life. I can hold in my hand a book that began just as mine did: as a dream, a collection of words, and a hope that someone will fall in love with the story enough to help it grow wings and fly!
I’m still writing, of course. I squeeze it in at nap time, and sometimes after the boys are in bed. Every day I continue to take steps toward being published, and becoming a more skillful writer.
But reading is the love of my heart, and is so therapeutic.
One of the things I miss is reading all night. I used to get so engrossed in a book that I would stay up until dawn because I could not sleep, the story had me completely. Sadly, I think my days of reading till daybreak are over for a decade or so. If I stay up till midnight my chances of being Zombie Mommy the next morning are pretty high, so I only get a couple of hours per night with my book if I’m lucky.
That short amount of time still nourishes me, though. Getting lost in my imagination is a thoroughly worthwhile endeavour.
And reading makes the waiting that much easier, even if I still go to sleep each night envisioning an agent being as in love with my writing as I am with the book I’m reading. That feeds my imagination too, and keeps hope alive.
I hope you got some inspiration from this post. Feel free to comment with a suggestion for a good book, or a quote that helps you stay true to your own dream!
As always, thanks for stopping by my blog! 🙂
