Have you made your New Year’s Resolution? Is it something you even think about? Most people keep their resolutions to themselves, and they focus on self-improvement — which probably explains why they don’t follow through. Nearly half of all Americans make resolutions, but only 8% actually follow through.
In The Huffington Post, Abigail Williams writes about her resolution from 2016: I Read 52 Books This Year. Here’s What I Learned.
It was well worth her while
A quick Google search will show you that a 52 book challenge isn’t anything new, but Williams goes a step further to explain what she learned this past year:
- Books are a mirror.
- Reading made me more empathetic
- Don’t knock it till you try it.
- Reading shouldn’t always be an escape.
- My resolution was more achievable than anything I’ve tried.
She said books showed her imperfect, selfish, broken characters that she was able to connect with — thus the mirror. Gaining empathy was important to her in a year marked by so much viciousness and hateful spewing. She read books that took her outside her own world and, guess what: she liked it. I gather it’s a good idea to choose reading material that’s different from your usual genre and/or take you past your comfort zone. So don’t knock sci-fi or romance until you try it. Reading became a way for her to cope with the craziness in the world, rather than simply an escape. And of all the resolutions she’s made and broken, this one was clearly one she could achieve. That’s satisfying.
All good things.
Good things are what a resolution should bring you. Not regret or a sense of failure.
That’s why I’m resolving to read 52 books in 2017. Reading is a source of inspiration for me as a writer. I also hope it’ll get me away from reading political news. I had nightmares the other night.
Want to join me? (not in having nightmares, but in reading!)
Linda K. Sienkiewicz is the author of In the Context of Love, adult contemporary fiction about one desperate family’s struggle to survive against great odds.
2016 Eric Hoffer Book Award Finalist.
2016 Readers’ Favorite Finalist
2016 USA Book News Best Book Finalist
Is it ever too late to leave your past and the secrets that haunt you behind? What makes us step back to examine the events and people that have shaped our lives? And what happens when what we discover leads to more questions?
“…at once a love story, a cautionary tale, and an inspirational journey.” ~ Bonnie Jo Campbell, author of National Book Award Finalist, American Salvage, and critically acclaimed Once Upon a River,and Mothers, Tell Your Daughters
Buy now: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound
52 books is a solid, reasonable goal. My Goodreads Year in Books said I only read 39 books in 2016, but I sometimes forget to add books there. And I only add books that I like and recommend 3 stars and up, so it doesn’t include the books I didn’t connect with or finish. Happy New Year!
That’s amazing, Kristin! Now, if only I could pull myself away from the “breaking news” I’d be able to do a lot more reading (and writing)! Thanks for your sharing your thoughts!