21 in 2021

A challenge of far more than reading.

In 2019 I read two books; Birdbox and an unpublished sci-fi novel. I allowed myself to get lost in both, a rare departure from the psychology and counseling books that have captivated every bit of my attention the last few years in graduate school.

I’ve always loved getting lost in a good book but haven’t allowed myself this indulgence often enough.

In 2020 I read Man’s Search for Meaning for the 3rd time, for school, and most of Big Magic — an exceptional read on creativity and the magic of ambition and stepping into our lives with creative passion. I spent much of 2020 piling on even more classes than usual (if I was going to be stuck at home anyway — why not?!), writing, and sampling a lot of wine. There was no extra time for reading!

As 2021 neared and social media became flooded with new year’s goals and resolutions, words for the year, dreams, and challenges as well as affirmations of the prior year’s accomplishments (beyond the virtual happy hours and endless neighborhood walks that marked 2020), the universe had called me into reading. Book challenges were all over my Facebook, complete with friends’ Goodreads lists and recommendations.

It quickly became apparent that my friends had read more books in the last year than I had in the last five combined, and that didn’t sit well with me.

My boss also happened to share with me that he had met his goal of reading 50 (FIVE-ZERO) books in 2020; that’s more books than I had read in the last 20 years! I reasoned with myself; you’ve been working full-time, while single-parenting, and going to graduate school full-time — you’ve read a lot — for school. All this was in fact true, yet it was gnawing at me.

I decided to change my story.

I told my boss that I would commit to 12 books in 2021 now that my schooling was coming to an end (never mind practicum and licensing exams!) I believed that one book per month would be a doable and fun challenge.

By the next time we spoke, a week later, I had upped my game to 18; 12 felt too small and I like to play big in most things in life. With three days left in 2020, 18 books it was.

And then, on New Year’s Day, I saw it and there was no turning back; #21in2021. It had a nice ring and I decided that I was up for the challenge!

If my friends could do it, why couldn’t I?!

I downloaded the Goodreads application and consumed my first book of the year, Malorie, in six days. It was easy to get sucked into Malorie’s world; what mother can’t identify with the sheer terror of keeping kids safe from a great unknown, especially during a Pandemic? But I knew that not every author was Malerman, and that not every book would be as captivating as Malorie. How would I maintain this momentum in order to meet my goal?

The answer was in this saying: action over intention!

So I created a chart, specific and measurable, and I built reading into my life; 20 mins twice a day, two books at a time.

I started by choosing one self-help-type book and one novel, a day-time book and a nighttime read, a need-to-digest type, and a quick read to maintain momentum and see results. I chose different lengths of books; if an author published it and bound it — it counts! The shortest book I read was This Is Water, which was concise and profound, and the longest was Firefly Lane — a beautiful novel of friendship (also a Netflix series, though not at all the same).

I am less than three months from goal now, seeing that it is mid-October, and there is no doubt that I am going to crush it! I am at 16 books read with several in process. But more importantly than widening my knowledge of literature and enriching my brain, I have met and exceeded a far more important task.

This has not been simply a challenge in reading but rather in commitment, integrity, and discipline. I must show up to reading as I do to the yoga mat, as I do to the trail, if I want to grow, to move forward, and to meet my goals.

I still study and work full time, and parent my two beautiful school-age children and I also make time for the things that I say matter to me.

Instead of binging Netflix — I binge books; something’s gotta give! Instead of mindless scrolling through my newsfeeds first thing in the morning or last thing at night — I read. It’s better for the brain too, and better for sleep.

By making small intentional changes in my life, consistent with whom I see myself to be, and meeting them with the action and integrity they deserve — I maintain momentum and achieve my goals.

And so can you. What is something you have wanted to do but didn’t think you had time for? What changes might you make to make time for the things that matter to you?

Writers who read make better writers. What are you reading now?

Galit Birk, PhD is a life coach and a soon-to-be-therapist. She has a PhD in Psychology and a Master’s in Counseling. She is a writer, editor, and poet. She is a single mom. She is a deep-feeler who is passionate about people having it all, and living a life they love! Follow her on Twitter and Instagram, and use her referral link to sign up for Medium membership.