There are a lot of benefits to running my business out of my home. I love not having to get up and squeeze onto the subway with everyone else. I don’t have to wait in line at the coffee cart. My co-workers are my two sweet cats; they hardly ever cause any office drama or gossip. And when I do work out of my house… it’s outside in the sunshine with my beyond fabulous clients. It’s a pretty great deal.
My only regret is that I hardly ever find time to read anymore. Today it’s chilly and rainy in New York City – you can smell autumn in the air. (I actually wrapped a scarf around my neck when I went out this morning! Love it!) This time of year puts me in the mind of reading and books. Maybe it’s the whole “back to school” mentality. Before I left my 9 to 5 for the wonderful world of self-employment, I used to spend my commute reading. And I desperately miss that.
I still read of course… a chapter or two before bed, or when I take a trip. But I definitely don’t read the amount I did before. I used to not only read during my commute, but on my lunch break as well. Now I eat while I’m working, and unless I’m meeting a friend for lunch, I don’t really take a “lunch break.”
I miss having my nose in a book on the subway. Or being so engrossed in a novel that I count the minutes until I can go to lunch and get back into my book. I think that is something I have to make time for again. I have to close the computer and take the time to enjoy my lunch and a good book too.
I don’t think I even realized I’d lost that precious reading time until recently. I’ve been so caught up in work, work, work that I let something I love so much slip away, which is sort of sad. My birthday is Thursday – yes, I’m taking the day off! – and while I’m out, I might just treat myself to a trip to the bookstore to stock up on some great reads, so I can get my literary habits back in line. Any suggestions? Anything you’ve read lately that you just couldn’t put down? (To give you an idea of what I like, some of my favorite authors are: Harper Lee, David Sedaris, Jonathan Safran Foer, Jeffrey Eugenides, Neil Gaiman, Michael Chabon…) So recommend away! I need some new books ASAP!
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Let’s see:
Traffic
Fortune Cookie Chronicles
Gospel of Food
Year of Living Biblically
The Lunatic Express
Jesus is not a Republican
The Tipping Point
Blink
Paradox of Choice
That’s all I can think of for now. I mostly read non-fiction, social science books so that may not be your cup of tea.
Thanks for the suggestions! I read a lot of that kind of stuff too, so I’ll definitely keep your recommendations in mind. I think what I want right now, though, is a really great novel I can climb in and swim around in.
I assume you’ve read Kavalier and Clay? That’s one of my all time favorite books (along with To Kill a Mockingbird). How about Brothers K by David James Duncan. Definitely a book you can sink your teeth in. I found it a bit heavy on the baseball to begin with but worth pushing through. I also love Toni Morrison – I think I read Beloved in one very powerful sitting (this was before I had a baby or my own business!) Sadly that’s all that really comes to mind right now as I haven’t read too many meaty novels lately either. Happy birthday for Thursday!
Yes, Kavalier & Clay is so amazing! I haven’t read Brothers K, but I will give it a go! I haven’t read anything by Toni Morrison actually, so I should probably do that. Thanks for the suggestions!