Learning From The Unfinished

Well, it’s not looking good for my 2022 Reading Challenge. While I’ll probably have read somewhere between 40-50 books throughout the year, there were just some prompts that I struggled to complete. There were books I wanted to read that didn’t fit into the prompts, and I didn’t want the challenge to take away from my enjoyment of reading. I think that there was also an element of returning to work in the office and adding my teaching job that played a role. I found that there were many days when I just wanted to read something simple or relaxing and didn’t have the same level of energy to start something new or to be as deliberate. A prime example is that I am re-reading the Harry Potter series rather than reading anything new. It began with offering to read along with my goddaughter and then being swept up into the books and unable to read anything else.

I’m disappointed in this conclusion, but I’m also granting myself some grace as I reflect on what occupied my time and energy. The fall is always when I begin to evaluate my time, goals and expectations of myself for the upcoming year, so I intend to integrate this experience into that process. I do think I will include the reading challenge in my plans again and make sure I consider what got in my way this past year. I will weave this same thinking into how I contemplate the other plans I make for habits and goals for the upcoming year.

October 28, 2022