When I was a young teen, living in Framingham, MA, once a week I’d get on my bike and head to the library to bring back the teen romances, mysteries, and westerns I’d read. It was the best day of the week as far as I was concerned. I could collect my library stickers and come back with a whole stack of new books.

The fact that there was an ice cream store nearby didn’t hurt.

Even when summers required work, I read. It was only when I had my first child that my time for reading really took a hit.

How about you? Were you an active reader as a kid? Did you work for those stickers?

Do you participate in the Goodreads’ Reading Challenge?

If not, I encourage you to set aside time in your life to read. Reward yourself with stickers! Plan something nice if you reach your goal.

Finally, try to read eclectically. Throw a tougher book into the mix. If you normally read romance, try women’s fiction … or something even more daring like sci-fi. Even if you wind up swearing you’ll never read another one, you’ll get to see the world from another person’s point of view. It took me an entire year to read Ron Chernow’s Hamilton, but I’m grateful I did. It taught me a lot about how our government creaked its way into existence.

I’d love to know what you’re reading … Shoot me an email at casey@caseydawes dot com.

And if it’s one of my books, I’d be ever so grateful.