Can I be honest? I really don't understand when people say that they have no time to read. Like, "Oh, I love to read, but I just have no time!" or "How can you possibly read so much? Where do you find the time?"
First of all, my reading so much is a testament to how fast I read as well as how often I read. More importantly though, is my belief that every minute is a minute you could be reading. I read at breakfast, I read while I dry my hair, and I read while working out. I read at stoplights, at Subway during lunch, while waiting in line anywhere that the line is long. I've read in salons and in crappy little nail places, I've read at the gas station (while filling up) and at the car dealership. My books go where I go. So time, yes, might be scarce sometimes, but those three minute breaks, they add up.
I guess it's a passion thing. This morning at the airport (at about five in the morning), I was reading HP VI and a woman looked over and said, "That's the new Harry Potter!" I nodded; I was reading, and I think it's really, really rude to interrupt someone while they're reading. "Oh my goodness, and you're almost finished too! Are you almost finished?" I told her that I still had a few hours reading left, and she said, "But you're almost done! Did you just get that yesterday?" Well, hello, it came out yesterday! I nodded. "Oh, good for you, good for you." What the fuck do you say to that?
I assume she thought I was younger than I am, because that's how she was speaking to me. But even so, her attitude was obnoxious to me. I read HP any moment I could yesterday, and I still attended a family party from 11 to 6, and went to dinner from 7 to 10. I bought the book at 9 a.m. I read fast, okay?
But more than that, it's a frigging priority. If you really love reading so damn much, put your money where your mouth is and read during the five minute down-time you have. Otherwise, here is what I hear: "I don't really love reading, but I love telling people that I love reading because it makes me sound smart." And it's fine if you don't love reading, it really is. I live with a man who doesn't love reading. But at least he doesn't pretend to love reading. Trust me, S isn't walking up to people and saying, "I love to read, but I'm just way too busy!" If you were to ask S what he was reading, he'd probably laugh, and say, "Me, read?" Fine, fine. S loves photography. All his extra time is spent doing something photo related.
So yeah, don't tell me you love reading but that you're too busy to read. It's bullshit, because if you love something, you make time for it. People who love to read READ. It's a compulsion.
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