I’ve changed my mind

Since childhood I have loved curling up on the couch under my cozy blanket to get lost in another world, another era, a different adventure. I love becoming friends with the characters of a good book. I love feeling that a character is just like me, that she’s a best friend who has let me glimpse into their soul, that she has allowed me to come along on her journey. I also love hearing the story of people who are nothing like me.

I have always loved that reading a book is tactile. When my husband asked for a Kindle many Christmases ago, I bought him one. He loved it and asked if I wanted my own, but for years I said no. Nope. I love the feel of books in my hand. The comforting and calming feeling of the pages of a book in my hand. Toying with the top right hand corner, running my fingers down the edge of the book as I read, being able to easily glance to see how much of the story I still have to savor. And to my husband's chagrin: dog-earing pages instead of using a bookmark. Each book is well loved, well used. No Kindle for me. No, thank you.

2020 changed my mind. In mid-March our library closed in mid March.. Suddenly I found myself much more open to the idea of a Kindle because I had run out of new books. I was missing out on everything I loved about books.

So last spring I was thrilled when a thoughtful birthday gift arrived from my parents who know my love of reading. The gift? A Kindle.

Within twenty minutes of setting up the Kindle, I was hooked. I get the hype now. I understand the appeal. I love my Kindle.

I've changed my mind.

The Kindle's Appeal

The Kindle is incredibly lightweight (lighter than an iPhone) which means I can easily hold it in one hand without any fatigue. Because the screen is not backlit, I can still read right before bed without blue light harming my sleep. While I really do love the feel of pages as they turn, I have to admit it is rather nice to have something smaller and more portable than a thick, 800 page novel.

Checking Out Library Books

While I can purchase Kindle books online, I prefer to borrow novels from the library. In fact, I've found that it has been easier to request loans for the Kindle than it was to request loans for hardcover books. Most libraries now make accessing their digital books very easy with an app (mine uses the Libby app). There you can place holds if a title is not available or you can borrow immediately if a title is available. The book you want to borrow downloads directly to your Kindle in a matter of minutes. It even automatically returns your book on the due date so you accrue no fines. (This is a major perk for me.)

Where the Kindle Lacks

I love to read novels on the Kindle, but I have noticed that I am unable to read non-fiction books on my Kindle. Interestingly, I have always preferred my own copy of non-fiction books so that I can highlight and dog-ear to my heart's content. When I am reading non-fiction, particularly personal development books, I find that I remember things not only according to chapter and headings, but also by location on the page. Because the Kindle doesn’t allow me to track what I’m reading spatially, I still purchase non-fiction books in hard copy.

This is the Kindle I have. I think it’s worth the $20 upgrade to remove ads. Just make sure you select “Without Ads” located near the color choices. You can always pay to remove them after your Kindle arrives, too.

Now the biggest question I have is: What should I read next? Have you read any good books lately? I am always looking for an excellent new read!

The March Mix

When it comes to diffuser blends, I tend to find a combination that I love and then shamelessly fill my diffuser with the same thing for basically the entire month. Kind of like a good playlist. You too? Then this is the only recipe mix (see what I did there?) you need this month. It's the perfect balance of woodsy and citrus with a hint of floral.

All of these oils are considered “happy” or "balancing" oils—oils that are designed to elevate our mood. Smell is our only sense that activates the limbic system, which is the part of our brain that controls our emotions. That’s why I tend to have at least one of our seven diffusers (don't judge) running at some point during our day—it provides an even undertone to our entire day.

You can download my March Diffuser Calendar for more options to do the same in your own home. Or, if you want a pretty version of my March Mix to share with a friend, download it here.

Snippets of My Week

Excellent read. Recommended.

A Christmas gift they still play with daily.

Hearing them practicing their duet for their spring recital brings back so many childhood memories for me.

Thanks for reading! I’d love to hear something you've enjoyed reading lately–just hit reply if you’d like to share. I read all your messages and try to respond, but not always in a timely manner. Sorry! And if you enjoyed this email, you’d be doing me a favor by forwarding it to someone else who might like it.