Feeling Guilty About Reading

Sometimes I feel guilty about reading. I know I should be “working” but instead I’m reading. It is my obsession.

Since I was a little girl, reading has been my lifelong pleasure. It has been my best friend, my escape and my solace. I have traveled all over the world and through time and space, all because of the books I’ve read.

I’ve had a library card since I was a little girl. I actually don’t remember a time that I did not have a valid library card. I think I’ve had a library card for the San Francisco Public Library for over forty years. Wow.

And I’ve written three books. So I guess all that reading has paid off, right?

But there’s this pesky problem of time. Never having enough of it. Something has to give, right?

I have an art business to run, students to teach and oh yes… a family to find time for!

I was just reading Cole Schafer’s blog post about mental dieting. And in it, he said that Stephen King reads between 75-100 books a year. That’s roughly two books a week… Let that sink in. Two books a week.

So I’ve decided I will no longer feel guilty about reading. I’m starting a reading diary. I plan to keep track of all the books I read during the year. Maybe I’ll get to Stephen King level. I doubt it.

But if you see me on the street and I have that glassy look in my eye, you’ll know I was up all night catching up on my reading.

In the meantime, here’s the series I’m reading right now and check my recommended products page for books about art.

And then of course, there are the three books I’ve written!