Earlier this year I lost my Fitbit. At some point while packing for our move to Detroit, I stuck it in a bag (why wasn’t I wearing it?!) and then naturally forgot about it until about 90 days ago. As soon as I found it I told my mom something like, What’s the point in wearing it? I’m not going to meet my step goal. But, that’s so not the point. The point of wearing a Fitbit is to try to meet your goals. To try to be more active. To just see what can happen.
Instead of, I don’t have time to read, I now think, What if I read just a few pages? And so that’s what inspired me to start reading a little more intentionally.
It’s true, I have a hard time focusing on a book these days. If the story line isn’t catching my attention, if there are too many characters, if I find myself self-analyzing myself after reading a few sentences, I lose interest. One book I even put down and deemed “read” even though I’m not done. Why? Because my free time right now is precious. I want to feel filled up during my fringe hours. I want to feel inspired and excited and a little day-dreamy :) And that book wasn’t doing any of those things for me.
A couple weekends ago I stopped by a thrift store near our home and WHAT? I found four books for less than $4 total! It was awesome. One book I was really hoping to find (anything by Nicholas Sparks), one that was newly released (When Breath Becomes Air), one that I owned in Minneapolis but sold so we could move to Los Angeles (The Glass Castle) and one for Zack (Father Fiction).
Even if I only have 20 minutes to read, those are still 20 minutes spent doing something that fills Maggie up.
Even if I pick it up and fall asleep three minutes later (don’t judge), I’ll be celebrating in my sleep I got to read a full page, hooray!
What I’m trying to remember more often is reading something is better than nothing, including the number of steps I take a day ;)
PS. I’m almost done with The Lifegiving Home, and oh my goodness, I highly recommend it if you desire to make your home a place of encouragement and rest for your family and guests.
Are you a book worm? What’s on your book shelf, what are you currently reading, or what do you have on your wish list? Or, what would you do with 20 minutes of free time?
Thrift stores-especially the little independent ones (out here they are mostly Christian independent ones) are THE BEST place to find used books. I mean, I love my used bookstore, but I’d much rather pay $1/piece instead of $7.50/piece! AND you’re keeping something out of the garbage. I usually pass mine on to friends who I know might like just that story I finished, too, so it’s like a win-win-win. <3
I love passing along books, too! And it used to bother me if the cover got a little bent or the pages creased from my kids playing with it, but I now love the reminder of having my little ones around me :)
I have been trying to read a little too, if I get a spare minute!! Great little goal :)
Yay for thrift store book finds! I’ve read all Nicholas Sparks’ books. I’m not as apt to sit down and read as I once was. I still read a good deal, but not as much. Your goal of just reading a few pages is a good one.
What awesome book finds! I am a huge reader and I get sad if I don’t get my daily reading time. In fact, to meet my step goal, I often walk up and down my hallway in the evening while I’m reading a book. Is that weird?! I’m currently reading: The Martian, by Andy Weir (highly recommend-funny and interesting! This is my third time reading it), The Forgetting Time, by Sharon Guskin, and The Thorn and the Blossom, by Theodora Goss. I have When Breath Meets Air on my TBR list!
LOL, I’ve done that too (reading and walking) :)
I couldn’t agree more! I also have three littles and I honestly can only read half a page some nights before my eyelids are too tired to continue! Haha. I have been reading “The Girls” forever it seems. Oh well at least I am still reading.
Have you done a post on your Fitbit and reaching your daily step goals before? I have really been thinking about buying one. I think chasing these kids might be adding up!
I haven’t, but I have a few on running :: http://www.maggiewhitley.com/category/lifestyle/running/
Maybe that’s something I could share in the future? Feel free to email me with any questions :)
I mostly read books for work-at-home people, like time management or running your own business stuff. If you have any recommendations in those areas, I’d be grateful to hear them!
Have you read the handmade business e-book I co-authored with Elise Blaha Cripe? It’s called Building a Business, and I hear it’s pretty good ;D
I love finding books at thrift stores! I’ve been trying to read more intentionally as well…having a 3.5 and a 1.5 year old I feel like I’m just beginning to be able to focus on more than magazines (which I love to read to!). Just picked up and started reading The Vacationers by Emma Straub, and The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. From the library, I’ve recently read, and would recommend, Catastrophic Happiness: Finding Joy in Childhood’s Messy Years by Catherine Newman and Sewing Happiness: A Year of Simple Projects for Living Well by Sanae Ishida
Oh I am thrilled you suggested a sewing book, that sounds absolutely refreshing and I will check it out :):)