Judge me by the joy I bring

I had a book voucher to spend recently and while browsing, decided to buy The Bullet Journal book. I got a bullet journal last year but I think I need to up my bujo game, hence the book. I also bought a copy of The Winners Bible by Dr Kerry Spackman, a New Zealander who coaches high performing athletes, among others, on how to improve performance. My brother had recommended the book a while back and when I saw it, I figured I’d give it a go.

Its an interesting book which I am making my way through and taking notes, but today I was pondering a section he calls 'intrinsic drivers'. That is, those reasons for doing things. It's all about digging deep within yourself to figure stuff out. He asks you to list things you like doing and then examine why you like them. Reading, of course, figures and I thought it was really interesting to ponder just why I like reading a novel, romance or any other genre. Straight away I know that with romance I like the happy ending and that you know it's going to end up well. No need to skip to the end to see whodunit. You know the couple are going to end up together. But what else?

Thinking about reading a good book, I came up with a few things. One is that it's just joyful. Blissful. Reading a book you love is one of life’s greatest joys. They’re entertaining, especially if it’s a good laugh out loud chicklit, a la Sophie Kinsella or Jill Mansell. I recently discovered Cathy Maxwell’s regencies, different yet again, but so much fun with a great story and strong female characters. I think there’s an element of accomplishment in finishing a book and adding it to a list such as the "goodreads challenge". I am not one to persevere with a book just 'because' so not everything I start gets finished. I love reading because one can be by oneself, and as someone who is quite anti-social at times most of the time, that’s a biggie. I’m not so sure about escapism. I know that’s a reason for a lot of people to read, but I have never felt the need to escape from life, so I’ll hold fire on that one. And as a writer, certain authors inspire me, particularly when I read something wonderful and want to replicate that with what I write. That’s why I often go back to favourite authors like Fiona Brand, Abby Gaines, Karina Bliss, Nora Roberts, Jenny Crusie et al. 

It’s interesting to ponder, anyway, how something so basic can bring so much joy. As an author (it may have been Kathleen Gilles Seidel ) wrote in an essay in the book Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women (ed. Jayne Ann Krentz)  … judge me by the joy I bring.