Book Lover FOMO
/One of the best parts of being a book lover is that it is impossible to run out of books to read.
When I was a kid, this was devastating to me. I used to bring home a minimum of 10-15 books every time I went to the library, devouring anything that interested me and growing a little desperate every time the realization hit me that I would never be able to read EVERYTHING.
Now, at 30, I see the world of books in a completely different way.
It's exciting! I love the fact that I can never run out of books to read. Even if I read all day, every day, it would be impossible.
What an amazing hobby to have, right?
I came across this list of books recommended by fantastic authors, and as a HUGE fan of Glennon Doyle and Untamed, seeing her recommendation right at the top peaked my interest.
As I got further and further down the list and started realizing that I hadn't read ANY of the books on the list, I started to hear the voice of 8-year old me, worried as my already 1,000+ “books to read” list kept growing.
Then I paused for a moment and examined that thought.
One of my coaches taught me not to judge thoughts like this, but instead to see it and allow yourself to think, "That's interesting." And that's all.
So I did. I thought that's an interesting belief, is it true?
And right away, I knew it wasn't. I leaned into the uncomfortable feeling swirling in my belly and realized that I actually believed the opposite to be true - it's INCREDIBLE to be able to access so many amazing writers and heartfelt stories.
Books help me to connect with the world, my community, my friends and my clients, and they help me to connect with myself. They show me layers of myself I didn't know needed to be uncovered, and they give me a peak into the lives of people much different than me so I can experience a tiny piece of their world right from my reading nook.
Knowing I'll never run out of books, of inspiration and of ways to connect to something much bigger than myself makes me so happy and grateful — and as a result I love finding lists like this to pour over and find new books to read!
Plus, knowing I'll never run out of books gives me a sort of… Permission slip from the Universe to pass on the books I've tried to read that didn't speak to me.
Because we've only got so much time on this planet, and spending any of it reading a book you don't enjoy - or working a job you hate, or in a relationship that's not fulfilling - just doesn’t make sense.
So I invite you to do the same with that fearful voice that pops up and says "I can't do it all, I'm missing out." And ask yourself, is this true?