Reading With Kaye

So, you didn’t reach your reading goal this year, so what?

If you’re anything like me, you have a Goodreads account or some sort of tracking app to track your reading.

And you set an ambitious reading goal, and after reaching our goal last year, you didn’t think there would be any problems with reaching a new one this year. I mean, after all, whenever you set a goal for yourself, you always achieve it.

But life happens; you were outsideeee with your friends this summer, working all the time, then school started. And now, the year is about to end. Exams are approaching. Worst of all, you do not think you’re going to reach your goal.

And if you’re anything like me, this is really bothering you.

Unless you have reached your goal, then please know that I am not a hateful person, but I do hate you a little bit at the moment.

This year, I have read a total of 19 books so far (and am currently on my 20th one; I have been forced to prioritize my exams and final assignments. I’m not happy about it.)

This is nothing short of an accomplishment, yes. After the worst reading slump of my life I endured in 2020, I am happy to just be reading at all.

However, I had set myself a goal to read 25 books this year.

I started to stress out about this a few weeks ago, because was I really about to finish this year without getting the congratulatory notification Goodreads sends to you once having completed the goal you set?

The horror.

But, after my dramatics, I really started to think things through.

The stories I read this year were some of my favourites of all time. I even gave the Fantasy genre a chance, which I never thought I would do. I was introduced to new worlds, to characters that have joined my “favourites of all-time” list. Read beautifully written love stories that arguably changed my brain chemistry. If I really stopped to think about it, it was still, nonetheless, a successful reading year!

What I’m trying to say is:

So, you didn’t reach your reading goal this year, so what?

Think of all the wonderful stories you were introduced to.

All the characters you got to meet for the first time.

Whether you read 100 books, or 50, or 19, or even 5, know that this is an accomplishment to be proud of. Remember the stories that were able to take you away from your reality. The tears you may have shed from heart wrenching storylines and arcs, the new information you gathered about the world around you, the “Aw’s” you let out after the couple finally gets together, the adventures you were a part of, and even the cringey moments you came across (because I’m sure you did somewhere).

And just remember,

There’s always next year <3

Good luck with your exams,

Happy Holidays,

And I will see you in January with many new recs and thoughts.

Keren x