I’m sure this title sounds dramatic and probably like some kind of click-bait, but it’s really not.
I’ve had chronic health issues since elementary school – mostly a variety of autoimmune disorders/diseases. Annoying, but manageable… until about 8 years ago. I had the first of 9 surgeries in 6 years as well as mounting stretches of the inability to do anything but lay in bed and try to merely survive.
I’ve always been a reader – but I dove in with abandon. Reading from the moment I woke until I passed out (for naps or for the night). Listening any time I was up and moving. Several years I read over 500 books.
Looking back, I can now clearly see how it was a coping mechanism that helped me escape my health, my spiraling thoughts, and threatening depression. So it is with no amount of hyperbole that I say:
Books Saved My Life
I am eternally grateful to have fallen in love with authors, narrators… and starting in 2019 – other bibliophiles online. I had so much fun and learned a lot about “the business of books”.
The problem is, it’s not fun for me anymore. Despite taking several breaks and trying to change the way I interact with the book world – I continue to be overwhelmed: mostly by pressure I put on myself (read/listen more, buy more, post more, post better) but also the continuous (and repetitive) cycles of drama and conflict.
For almost a year – despite reading/listening daily, I’ve barely posted.
For months – checking FB, IG, & Threads and even reading/listening at all has felt more like an obligation than fun.
For over a week – I’ve been staring at the renewal notice for my WordPress blog to keep it on a registered domain and ad free.
It’s time.
Time to take a longer and more complete break. Not from books, but from the online world surrounding it.
At this point, I will keep all my accounts active – but log out from them on my devices. I will continue to use StoryGraph, BookBub, goodreads, & retail sites – but not pressure myself to write overly detailed reviews (or any at all). I will be unsubscribing from a lot of newsletters and email alerts. I will be reverting my blog to a free version and likely not updating it for a while. Maybe some day I’ll be back – but I’m stepping away from the pressure to even make that decision.
Thank you all. And happy reading/listening.
Rellim Reads 