Comfort Reading

 Reading for Comfort in an Uncomfortable World

Do you have a favorite novel or series of novels? I mean a real favorite (can be more than one). This book is so beat to hell that you have the cover held together with scotch tape and prayers. It is your vice and comfort in a world full of bullshit and turbulence. This is your go-to that defines your interests and your personality to an extent. If you had to be stranded on a desert island and could only take one book with you, then you would choose that book. 

My personal choice for my comfort book. Not my actual copy, this one is in better shape...

I have anxiety. That is an unfortunate fact. It is bullshit, I hate it, but it is true and I have to live with it. My anxiety manifests in a variety of shitty ways and one is with travelling. I travel for work and that takes me around the world, far from the comfort of home. I have to leave my element and enter alien worlds essentially. 

The night before my flight, I check the clock almost every hour when I should be sleeping. I obsess over leaving on time to catch my flight, I always feel the need to be way earlier than I actually need to be. I always end up waiting at the gate for hours because I got to the airport stupid early, having expected a traffic delay or getting caught up insecurity because I accidentally packed a 12 gauge.

It is kind of miserable being unable to just chill out without the help of prescription medication (I don't take any, fyi).

BUT! In all that misery, I always have a book. My most faithful travelling companion. I always take a physical copy of one of my favorite books with me when I go, even if I do not read it.

When I do read my comfort book I find...comfort...Stupid, but true statement. It is familiar like a worn pair of shoes. I just fall right into the story and my heart rate and human induced rage just drifts away like leaves in the wind.

The familiarity is relaxing and is a testament to the power of books and the words written in them. 

I am not saying that you shouldn't branch out and read new book and enter into new genres. You may find a new favorite that way. Another comfort book to assuage your world weary feelings. 

Until that happens it is not a bad idea to bring along your favorite novel(s). You know the story and you know the characters, so you do not need to read the book from cover to cover. You could just read a chapter or a paragraph that has particular meaning to you.

If you are stuck in the line for customs just pop your book out and read to take your mind off the long ass line full of people who probably are not prepared to go through customs. They have done this before, but for some reason they put their passport away and all of their papers...then they have to fumble to get that shit back out and screw up the flow. BUT instead of strangling them with your shoe laces you can escape on the adventure of a lifetime with you best fictional friends.

End of rant. End of self help blog post.