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I Wish I Could Write Like I Read, part 1
* A note on my use of the term “binge” — it is not my intention to make light of anyone’s struggle with disordered eating. However, while it’s obviously less of a health concern, the type of reading I do when stressed has a similar compulsive, uncontrolled quality to it. I crave it to the point of distraction, and it can significantly interfere with other things I need to do, sometimes even preempting basic necessities.
I haven’t been feeling my best this past week. I’m tired, overwhelmed, and dealing with some chronic pain. As a result, I’ve spent nearly every spare minute (and some minutes I shouldn’t have spared)… reading.
I’ve always read for enjoyment. Fiction, nonfiction, books, essays, articles, comic strips (although surprisingly few comic books), social media posts, instruction sheets, product labels. I pick up new reading materials constantly, but also have books that I’ve read so many times I can recite entire passages.
My list of books that I want to read is probably nearly book-length itself.
I’ve recently been introduced to the idea that reading can be a form of stimming, and initially found it to be a bit of a stretch. But then I considered how reading isn’t just something I do for interest or pleasure, but also something I do compulsively, especially when I feel stressed or…