ferrydust

17 March 2010 Wednesday

When I was younger I read a lot. I always checked out the library limit (35-40 at a time) and had them all read well within their due dates.

I walked out of the library today with just a handful of books, knowing sadly that there will almost certainly be one or three of them that I do not get to open at all before they’re due.

I realized my reading habits are rather like my eating habits: they haven’t really changed over the years, while my metabolism has.

The habits that worked fine for me before — checking out and buying whatever books I wanted, eating as much of whatever I wanted — don’t turn out the same way anymore. My life/my body chemistry are not the same; even though my behavior worked out fine for me before, I need to consciously change my habits now.

I’m a little sad about it, but I fully recognize the situation and need. It’s okay. I took full advantage of my younger eating and reading metabolisms, so no regrets there. And while I may not be able to read nearly as many books or eat quite so recklessly now, I’m still reading and eating good things.

And really, if I still have to return unread books on occasion, that’s okay too.