I love to read. I started reading when I was really little around 3 or 4 years old. My love of reading encompasses the following genres: Sci-fi, cookbooks, books about money, history, cultural, basically I love to read almost everything. But, there is one genre that has a special place in my heart-the romance novel. I love them and can’t get enough of them. A lot of people express some disdain when you tell them that you enjoy romance novels. They act like it’s not real literature, I’m here to tell you that it is! The problem is the following-romance novels range in price from $3.45-$8.00 a book. The other problem is that readers of romance novels tend to enjoy specific sub-genres within the romance world. I love: Harlequin Presents, Historic Westerns, some “cultural” ones and suspense. I don’t like the following genres: NASCAR, time-travel, or the Amish.
These books tend to have powerful and somewhat cold men with a hidden heart of gold. The women tend to be either super focused or super sheltered ladies who don’t know what hit them when their paths cross with the potential man of their dreams. Did I mention that all of the books end the same way? There is always a happy ending. So, I thought it would be a good idea to quantify how much this addiction costs me:
I typically buy around 3 or 4 books a month averaging around $3.75 a book
4 books a month x3.75 a book=$15
12 months x $15 monthly book expenditure= $180
I also check books out from the library. To be honest, I thought that the yearly cost would be more, but $180 is still too much. Especially when-the guy ALWAYS gets the girl. There is NO guess work when reading a romance novel and maybe that’s why I enjoy reading them so much. In this world filled with craziness the simple pleasure of happily ever after is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. Sitting outside on a patio in the sunshine and escaping, or while enjoying a cup of cocoa while the snow floats gently through the sky keeping you from being outside.
The question I’m asking myself is what could I have purchased with that $180? Is this a purchase that should be filed under “a latte factor?” Or, a cheap vacation? I always feel like I’m escaping when I read them.
An abrupt change in topics-SECULAR LENT 2013
So, for some reason I have fallen in love with the Lentin season and have given up something for Lent for the past three years. One year I think I gave up shopping and I literally had withdrawal symptoms the first few weeks. Another year I think I gave up grocery shopping. Or, I limited the amount I went to the grocery store. This year I decided to do something a little…different. I decided to give up complaining. Yep, complaining. I am convinced that I (and we) complain too much in the U.S. and we need to actively work on gratitude. Some things I find myself complaining about: the weather, my crazy colleagues, my weight, my computer, and the direction of my life. Let’s break this down really quickly.
- The weather, there is no reason for me to complain about the weather in Colorado. I hate to tell you this, but, it’s pretty darn nice here. We get more sunshine than San Diego, we don’t get a lot of snow in the plains. Why do I complain? I want snow because I want to go snowboarding, instead, it’s so nice out that I could go golfing…like I did last year at this time. This is a 1st World Problem.
- My Crazy Colleagues-for my colleagues/friends who might be reading this-obviously I’m not talking about you! But, honestly, I work with great people who happen to be hilarious. Especially when they are embracing their crazy time. Who am I judge? I have crazy time too.
- My weight-I could be skinnier or heavier. Maybe I could eat less or exercise more until I do one or the other-there is no reason to complain if I’m not going to do anything about it.
- My computer is a MacBook Air. It had an issue on Sunday and took almost 9 hours to fix. But, honestly, I have one of the best computers on the market right now and a 3 year warranty. Wait a minute, I have a computer that is the equivalent of a used car. Again, 1st World problem.
- Direction of my life-actually, now that I am actively trying to “steer” my life in the direction that I want, things are going pretty well. Oh wait, I have the ability to live the life of my dreams, doing what I want…as long as I try. It could be worse.
So, I’m giving up complaining because it’s a lazy reaction to the circumstances and moments that I’m experiencing in my life. I have a lot to be thankful for. So, I will focus on gratitude. I don’t think it will be easy-but, I think I can do it!
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I wish I had more time to read. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing but the only time I find time to read is right before bed, then I usually fall asleep in two seconds. I hate those books where the girls is so gullible and weak. I tried reading 50 shades and was so angry I could only get past the first few chapters. It was so awful. They have sub-geners about the amish?? who knew.
As far as lent, I’m always forget to give something up because I’m bad former Catholic. lol! But I kind of want to try. My biggest problems are sweets and I do want to try to give up alcohol not because I drink too much (hardly), but I’m trying to get in better shape.
I love your idea of giving up complaining. Tough to do!! I mean sometimes we hardly even notice we are doing it! Good luck!! Um, when does it start? Today? I’m going to hell aren’t I? 🙂
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE reading. There has been a turn around in romance novels to really strong heroines but I like the slightly tormented characters. Fifty Shades was basically naughty Twilight. I never even finished the third book. Lent is so awesome. I think that everyone should give up something sometime during the year and think about why they appreciate the thing that they gave up. It starts today btw!!
Interesting concept to give up – I told myself to be more mindful about first world problems, too, and it’s kind of interesting how often I had to “catch” myself from saying something once I became conscious of it! Self-awareness is always a good thing. Thanks for the tip on the busuu website, by the way!
I’ve always tried to be aware of the fact that my life is pretty good. But, it’s so easy to get caught up in what others have that I don’t. So, this is a basically an exercise in self-awareness. I think I won’t like how much I complain about stupid stuff