A recent reading slump almost prevented me from writing this post. Work picked up significantly, social festivities marked up my calendar and to be fully honest, the book I was in the middle of this month felt more like a chore than an escape from life’s busyness.
Not long ago my expectations were to suffer through novels I didn’t like for the sake of finishing them.
My perspective changed after a conversation I had with my brother. He’s always been an avid reader; a quintessential English major turned English college instructor. His ranging bookshelf included The Goosebump series to classic American literature to British Romanticism. I marveled at them like trophies. He told me once “there’s too many good books out there to not prioritize the good ones.” Hearing it from him of all people gave me the permission to stop and start over fresh when I needed to.
I admit to losing sight of my reading oath this month. The first couple chapters of Devoted by Dean Koontz were promising enough. Before I knew it the plot branched into multiple dizzying storylines.
The genre started out under heartwarming magical realism about a dog and a mute boy with a special connection. It’s what drew me in. Then it took a turn into a dark sci-fi about an evil man transforming into a beastly super villian until it morphed into some kind of bad action movie including hitmen and a secret evil corporation. Believe it or not, all of that unraveled within the first half of the novel.
The deeper in I got, the more I avoided picking it up.
I missed joy-reading. With the extra push from my brother’s wise words, I let go of expectations and walked away nearly 400 pages lighter.
Reading should be for enjoyment and enlightenment— not responsibility.
By closing one book, it freed up the time to dedicate to a new one worth keeping up with. My brother was right, there really are endless good stories to get lost in. Some you have to hunt for like treasure, some that find you just when you need it.
For the travelers: My favorite social media accounts, blogs, and newsletters all have something distinguishable in common: a love of story-telling. I’m drawn to vulnerable captions that shed a light on someone’s mind. Words hold power. They can transform mindless scrolling to a genuine connection; a stranger or acquaintance into a complex human that we may share more in common than we realize.
For years I’ve followed a joyful flight attendant with a vibrant feed. Taylor Tippett speaks from the depths of her heart for 100k+ of her following.
Words from the Window Seat was born out of her desire to spread kindness to strangers on her flights. She’d write an uplifting note and tape it on the window for a passenger to find. The messages were shared via Instagram accompanied by a personal story or lesson from the friendly skies.
The book is a compilation of her pay-it-forward project. It’s three-parts self-help book and one-part memoir. A tender pep-talk close out the chapters like a comforting episode of Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood.
She reflects on becoming a flight attendant, mental health, healing from broken romantic and familial relationships and she shares a sprinkling of travel stories she’s collected over the years.
With someone with a unique and worldly perspective, I would’ve loved to dig deeper into her off-the-clock traveling. When a friend returns from a trip- especially somewhere I’ve never been, I tend to ask so many questions. I’m fascinated by delicacies, traditional customs, hidden gems and surprising misconceptions about popular cities. And surely I can’t be the only one who wants to know the juicy details behind the first class curtain. Maybe that can be saved for another book.
The cloud-covered paperback was a refreshing segway into reading for joy again. Although at times formulaic and advice-driven, Words from the Window Seat was a quick feel-good read that’s as accessible to her following as to a stranger roaming a bookshop.
4/5 mugs
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