I have always enjoyed reading, probably influenced by my dad since I was a child. There was a period when I read very little; I didn’t know the exact reason, but I realized it when I started reading again. Maybe I just didn’t find the inspiration, or perhaps it was the stress of time.

“If you are overthinking, write. If you are underthinking, read.”

One random day, I saw this quote on social media. It resonated with me and inspired me to rekindle my reading habit. I tend to both overthink and underthink, and I hadn’t been reading or writing enough in recent years.

Most of the books I’ve read in the past few years are about parenting. I used to read a variety of genres, but now I am passionate about personal development: mental health, human behavior, and leadership, which recently led me to an interest in coaching and therapy.

Many Books at Once

My work sister and I were discussing reading habits, and she mentioned that she often doesn’t finish whole books, preferring to read selective chapters that interest her. On the other hand, I always read many books at the same time, sometimes taking even a year to finish one. This works for me because most of them cover similar topics, allowing me to link different perspectives from various authors. This applies to nonfiction books.

My Book is My Diary

Some people like to keep their books clean, but mine are a mess. I always use highlights and notes, even though my handwriting isn’t great. It’s a colorful mess, but it feels like my diary, especially with personal development, self-help, or human behavior topics. I spend a lot of time reflecting. Many questions for myself arise, and I need to write them down immediately so I can revisit them. It can be joyous or painful, but it’s a part of who I am today.

I Seldom Lend Books; I Prefer to Give Them

I’ve had some bad experiences lending my favorite books. One was the first book I got from Astrid Lindgren – Emil, which my dad brought for me from a business trip. It’s gone now. I also borrowed a book from a friend but lost contact and couldn’t return it. This has deterred me from lending books. Each book is tied to different events, occasions, and reasons; they are often gifts. They aren’t just random books; they feel personal, especially since my books are like my diary. If I’ve left notes in them, I probably shouldn’t lend them to anyone.

During Travels

English books are more common in my area now, but they weren’t in the past. I always visited airport bookstores to get at least one book on every business trip, or any bookstore I passed by. These books feel more special because they are connected to specific places. Most of my reading happens during travel, at hostels, airports, or on airplanes. It keeps me distracted from the fear of crowds and unfamiliar places.

Months ago, a friend asked how many books I read a year because he saw me buying so many. I never counted and didn’t know. I used to set a target for the number of books per year, but now I don’t even remember my goal. However, one thing is certain: I buy more books than I read. So, whenever I come across a good book, I try to convince myself not to buy it until I finish more of the books I already have. My Europe trip this year was the most I’ve ever spent on books; half of my luggage was books, and I doubt I can finish them all this year.

Kindle & Paper Books

I have both, but I prefer paper books because I can physically feel them, highlight, and write notes. I especially love the smell of book paper; it feels like the smell of time and familiarity, the warmth of wood. Maybe it’s because I always feel connected to the forest and trees, and books start from there.

However, I can’t deny that Kindle is convenient, especially since I had my son. I remember the first few months after giving birth, I needed to stay close to him without lights, so the Kindle was very helpful. Now, it’s handy if I want to read some pages before going to sleep. And I like my current Kindle Oasis because of its metallic feel and the holder that fits comfortably in my hand.

A Small Reminder

This little pin my work sister gave me serves as a reminder for both of us to maintain our reading habits. Since I restarted this habit, I feel my thoughts are calmer. I tend to listen more than talk, and I can reflect more and be more aware of what I want to say. However, I’m not yet at the level I desire because sometimes I am afraid my words hurt people unintentionally, and later I may regret my behavior and words, especially at my workplace.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.