2020 came and went but it left the disastrous effects of the global pandemic that ravaged the world in its wake. For most of us, it was a year that will be forever recorded in the history books because of the devastation it brought to every living soul.
If you ask me, I am quite sure that no one will want to have to go through something like it again. At least, not in their lifetime.
Most of those whom we know experienced isolation, loneliness, even depression as the lockdown ensued for months and months. However, some people were able to rise up to the situation and did what they could to make light of the new circumstances, or even use it to their advantage.
I have to say that I leaned towards the latter and I must admit that it made the hard times easier for me. I wish to share with you how I managed to get by, being the gregarious person that I am, without social interaction for the majority of the pandemic season.
One word. Books.
If you ask me, they kept me company and had me entertained throughout the house arrest period. When bouts of sadness threaten to overwhelm me, I look at my books as if they were people and pick the one “who” I know will improve my mood as I “converse” with it.
So, here are some ideas on how you can create your book list to get you through the difficult parts of life.
Light and Feel-Good
Sometimes you just want to sit back, unwind, and find delight in a wonderful book. Though for others reading may be a chore, I must tell you that it’s anything but. If you pick the right ones, then it may be likened to watching a TV series on Netflix but being glued to your book for the next few hours.
What’s better is that you get to imagine your own cast, how vividly the scene plays out in your mind, and how fast the story unfolds (since you can put down the book for breaks and take it up again as you so wish).
What may be considered light reading may differ from person to person, but I would say that these are the books that you can read and end up loving after. They are the ones that you keep on going back to despite having read the story. You bring them with you to the coffee shop or to a park or maybe the beach.
Smart Aleck
Now if you want some intellectual stimulation, which I believe we all need from time to time, then you should go find books that will make your brain cells churn and your mind expand as you read.
There is a plethora of books for every genre and I’m quite sure you will find one that will tickle your fancy if you simply spend time browsing the web or scouring the library and store bookshelves.
Getting into book reading as a source of mental exercise is an excellent habit and one that will be hard to shake when you establish it. So why not pick stories that will take you places as you enjoy the learnings that they give you while you forget the problems of the world?
Thrillin’ and Chillin’
If you’re the type who needs a scare to get your juices flowing, then look for books that will make your blood curdle and the hair off your nape stand on their end.
I personally love reading suspense/thriller books, with the typical whodunit plots, enjoying the investigative ride as the villain is revealed towards the end. If you’re like me, then you can find yourself buried deep in a book like this for hours and never have to think about what’s happening in the world.
It sure beats the fright that you get when you watch even just a few segments of news nowadays.
Surprise! Surprise!
Then there are those books that will simply blow your mind. They may not be the ones that you will choose from a selection in the stores or the library, but you want to surprise yourself a bit and move off the beaten path.
It’s always a brilliant decision to divert your attention from those that you will typically pick at any given day, just to add a bit of spunk in your life. You may not be sure a particular book in this category will be to your liking or not but that’s hugely why it’s such a fun thing to try.
Get down to Business
Now if you’re anything like me, you also want to make the most out of your time on lockdown and maybe learn something new. Most of us want to engage in activities that are worthwhile despite the limitations brought about by the pandemic.
Although visual learners may say that it’s better to watch tutorial videos on YouTube or any other video streaming websites, the old school way of learning the ropes through a hand-held physical book is still like no other.
So, get comfortable and snuggle up with a good self-help book and broaden your knowledge base on any subject.
Let’s get physical
Now, we are not truly banishing paper when e-book readers were introduced to the world. Let’s just say that book manufacturers were just given another option to publish their books and distribute them to readers like you and me.
However, as a true-blue book lover, I for myself favor physical paperbacks. Maybe it’s the unique scent a particular one gives off that makes it such an amazing experience for me.
If you’re unsure about what I’m trying to say, try leafing through the pages of your own book and giving it a good sniff. Now tell me if it isn’t a fantastic thing!
Electronic or not, as long as you are amused, educated, delighted, scared out of your wits, and made to feel all sorts of things while you’re off to your new adventure through a book, isolation will not be such a drab.
As for me, books were my constant companion all throughout the dreary months of being stuck at home, 24/7, with nothing better to do. So, if books were people, I’d say they were friends of the best kind.
The Fit Stewards 