I love
reading. The fact that I am a reader is so closely associated with who I am
that many people ask me what I’ve read lately before asking how I’m doing. You
know, the normal, “How are you doing?” question that you automatically respond
with, “Fine. How are you?” I usually get that AFTER being asked, “Read anything
good lately?” Which is great, most of the time. Except when you are in a funk.
And I am owning up here, I am absolutely in a reading funk.
You would think this would depress me, cause me to search for answers, to
panic, and more. But I embrace this crazy funkalicious mood I’m in. The reason
for that is simple – like most things in life I see a teaching moment buried here.
See, as much as I adore reading I think my students believe I read more than I
actually do. I think they probably think I go home, read, stop – make dinner,
read at the dinner table, clear the table, read another book, lay down with the
boys, read, go to bed, read. That is their description of my life. And while I
read a lot, it isn’t quite that much. So for me to share with them that I’m in
a reading funk? Powerful stuff my friends.
My plan
this week is to share with them my problem and talk together about why I think
I’m feeling this way and how I plan on getting out of it. My goal is that maybe
some of them will see themselves in me. But also, I want them to see that I
recognize that right now I’m not in the mood to read and that I plan on working
to change it. I think that is a lesson they need too.
So what
are my thoughts about why I’m in this funk? Many things:
· Too many books I want to read so
that I feel paralyzed by the choices.
· Books I HAVE to read but really
don’t want to right now. (I’m looking at you my #nerdbery friends.)
· The end of the year with due dates
for grad school, projects for school, and a plethora of items on the “to do”
list that are making me panic.
· The fact that I’ve read some of
the best books of my life in the past few months and nothing seems like it can
measure up in comparison.
Finally – and what I think my students need to see – how do I plan on getting
out of this?
· Try and get some items on that “to
do” list done so I can relax a bit.
· Read some “easy” books (picture
books, graphic novels) so that I feel like I’m making my way through some of my
stacks.
· Give myself permission to abandon
books that I’m not enjoying. (I do this for my students but have a hard time
doing that for myself.)
· Set aside a set amount of time
each day to read to get back in the routine.
How about
you? What causes you to fall into a reading funk and how do you get out of it?
I’m hoping this book will pull me out – I’ve been reading it for a few days and
enjoy it but need to devote more time into diving into the pages. Hopefully tonight
will be the start of a better reading week.
