There are times when we take a break from reading. It might be because we’re starting a new project (i.e. a writing project), going on vacation, or we’re busier at work. Whatever it is, getting back into reading can be hard. It’s like exercising a muscle that hasn’t been used in a long time. Like going for a jog when we haven’t jogged in a month or two.
The words leap off the pages one at a time. Processing the sentences and the paragraphs feel like a chore. Everything takes more effort than it should. But overtime, it gets easier. We become quicker in processing the words, sentences, and paragraphs. Our page-count increases with each day.
Soon enough, the book that took us so long to start becomes a breeze to finish. We already have the next book in mind. It’s easier to dive into that book, to visualize what’s happening, to understand what’s going on. As we begin to read more, our pile of finished books begin to stack up.
Then something comes a long, something that deters us from reading regularly. We forget about reading, and focus on our current tasks. A month or two goes by. At some point, the itch to read comes back to us. But it’s not so easy to start.
Fallton Havenstonne 