I overheard a conversation the other day about reading. One person mentioned that they don't have that luxury... to read. I instantly felt defensive. Why does this always make me so crazy?
I think it's because in my head, reading is not a luxury but a necessity. No matter how busy I am, or how crazy a day is, reading will still happen. (Well, usually. I mean, there ARE days where I do collapse dead tired in bed.)
But if it's considered a luxury to others, than I must be extravagant with my time since I read even if things get insane, right?
Wrong.
Well, at least to me. Reading IS a necessity. If a day goes by without reading, I notice it and it feels weird to me.
Really and truly, I have to have it.
So, what do you think? Luxury or necessity? I need your opinion, since this is officially my opinion post for this installment of Blog Post Bingo! :)
I think that reading is a luxury, but one that I'm very pleased to be able to indulge in each day. I don't think you should feel guilty about reading, being able to take the time to read is a special pleasure.
ReplyDeleteI think the majority of things we take for granted in the West are luxuries. The only necessities in life are water, some food and a bit of shelter. Everything else we need to be very grateful for.
I'm off to do a bit more reading!
Great post! Good luck with the rest of blog post bingo!
Okay, even I felt my hackles rise a bit with that comment. It's like an underhanded jab saying, "Oh, I'm too busy and have more important things to do." I always want to say to that comment, "Oh, what you do is more important than culture, learning, education, and a proven way of keeping your memory sharp? Very well, hand me my book!" I do realize it's a luxury in some cases, but as an English teacher, I say it's a NECESSITY. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't know if luxury is the right word. Like Farm Lane Books says, we can exist without reading, although my mind would be very bored with life sometimes. But instead, I think reading is a priority. People who say "I don't have that luxury" really just don't want it enough, I think. Everyone has time to read if they wanted to. Read while eating breakfast, while combing your hair, instead of watching television, on audiobook while driving, in the late hours of the night before the lights are turned off. Everyone and Anyone could read every single day if they really wanted to. Most people just don't care that much.
ReplyDeleteFor me it is a necessity but I can see how others think of it as a luxury. I manage to slip it into my day even though I'm busy. I wish I had more time for reading each day though.
ReplyDeleteI get that same feeling of anger when I hear people say that they "don't have time to read" ... what?! Do they think I'm not busy? That my life is not as crazy as theirs? The difference is that to me, reading is important (ie. a necessity) and therefore I make time for it. To them, reading is not important, hence they don't make time for it. :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Rebecca. I do think in a way having time to read is a luxury. I do know people who have to work 2 full time jobs and who spend the rest of the time desparately trying to care for their families. Yeah, they probably don't have very much time to read. But I also know people who claim not to have time, but who watch 10 hours of TV every week. It all has to do with what you think is more important. If TV takes precedence over reading, then you can't claim you don't have time to read, end of discussion. In that case, you just don't USE time for reading.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a bit of both. It's a necessity for me to keep my sanity to and from work on the train. But when I'm home and all the housework needs to be done when I'd rather be reading, it feels like a luxury.
ReplyDelete--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric
I think it's different for everyone, but for me it's a necessity. I think my brain might turn to mush if I didn't read. I want to cry thinking what my life would be like had I never read a book? I know some people who don't read like I do and think just the opposite. My husband is not a reader, unfortunately and can't understand my "habit". He thinks it's indulgent to buy a book when we can sometimes barely afford diapers, so I utilize my library more. I just think it's all personal preference but I would get angry too if someone attacked my necessity as frivolent.
ReplyDeleteI think everyone else has said it already, but in my experience the people who say that have no DESIRE to read for pleasure. And because they place no priority on reading, they can't understand why someone else would.
ReplyDeleteThat's fair, I guess, since I don't at all understand American's view that TV is a neccessity.
Semantics, semantics! Words can have connotations for us depending on our upbringing, life experiences, etc. I love the 'luxury' of reading, but for me it is a 'necessity'. If I wasn't able to access 'free' books at my library I would be forced to read the cereal boxes just to feed my 'addiction'. That being said, I love living in a country (Canada) and circumstances (middle-class, stable full-time job) that allow me to read to my heart's content!
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ReplyDeleteI completely agree with u. For me, reading is a necessity. I feel incomplete without reading books! I believe that if people are passionate about something, they will take out time for it, no matter what! I manage to read everyday irrespective of my hectic work schedule..
ReplyDeleteBut I also know people who think of reading as a luxury. They feel reading is like doing something "extra" for which they have no time!
I don't think it's either a necessity or a luxury. It's a matter of choice about how we spend our time. For me, I choose to spend that time reading because it's something I enjoy.
ReplyDeleteTotally a necessity! I couldn't imagine a day without reading even a little bit. When I don't read at all, those days stick with me because it is weird!
ReplyDeleteIt's a necessity for my sanity!
ReplyDeleteNecessity. No question.
ReplyDeleteWow! Impressive commenting people! Thanks so much for letting me know I'm not just talking to myself here! :)
ReplyDeleteSo if I was to take tally of the comments so far,it appears that most of us consider reading a necessity. Surprise, surprise, huh!
But I agree with what many of you say, that it is all a matter of choice and priorities and so forth. I'm just happy that somehow, I manage to fit it in. Thank you for that!
I agree with most of the posts. I choose to read instead of doing other things. Some people choose to jog, garden,go to the gym, etc. I also recently had a friend say she wished she had time to read for fun like I do. It made me feel defensive for some reason. I don't have time to read, I make time to read everyday.
ReplyDeleteI think I agree with Rebecca - I'd call it a priority. It's something I absolutely must make time for, otherwise I really feel like something's missing from my life. Though I guess that's what so many of you mean by necessity, so we're in agreement :)
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who is always asked how she finds the time to read. She responds by asking them which of their hobbies they would let go of last if they had to choose. Then she tells them that reading is the last free time activity she would give up. They seem to understand after that. We all have our pet hobbies, that no matter what, we find the time to do. I think people just have a hard time understanding the for some of us, reading is that #1 hobby.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Rebecca and Nymeth: not a luxury, but a priority. Something that I get to every day (kind of like blogging), that while not exactly necessary (like eating, or making sure the laundry's done) is something that I enjoy and makes my life richer.
ReplyDeleteAs I just said at Rebecca's- I do sometimes find it hard to find time to read. I don't watch tv, but I do have two small children, and work full time. I've taken to dropping them off at daycare 15 minutes early so I can read in my car a bit. I feel VERY guilty about that- they already spend all day there! I do spend a bit of time online that could be spent reading, but much of it is spent in the book blogging community, so it's hard to walk away!
ReplyDeletenecessity. I make time for it no matter what even if I just have time for a paragraph!
ReplyDeleteIt's a necessity. If I didn't read I'd get a lot more done, but I'd go nuts in the process. I'd also get very bored on the train :-)
ReplyDeleteI will repeat what many others here have written, but for me reading is also a matter of priority. It is true that we are living in a rushed time, some people work on tho jobs, have children etc. But let's be honest, we are not 24/7 of our time busy with doing something. If you can't read every day due to lack of a time, you certainly can spend at least one hour a week on reading.
ReplyDeleteMaybe there are people, who don't feel the need to read books. They have other hobbies. But for me, reading is not a hobby, but a necessity. Books enrich my imagination, my view of world, help me get to know myself better.