I need to feed my brain more. I used to eat up books like Cookie Monster ate...cookies. I've gotten out of the habit. My reading time has been replaced with social media crap, texts about how the world ought to be, opinions (oh god, the never ending opinions), dog videos (damn it I like them), artists doing their thing (to me they are like magicians, they scribble on the paper or canvas, I have no idea what its supposed to be and then out of the chaos a cool picture of Jimmie Hendrix appears) and idiots hurting themselves (yeah, I like those videos also). Death scroll is the term I've heard over the past couple of months. Accompanied by brain rot. Yep. Yep. Those terms are accurate.
To help myself, is to put more effort into reading books. Not just gaming books. Get back into the novels both classics and contemporary. Indulge into non-fiction books. I've got lots of them waiting for my attention. I used to love reading music biographies and I can't tell you the last time I did that.
I decided for 2026 I will put the effort into reading. I don't make resolutions. I remember when people would ask "What's your New Years resolution?" I'd answer with my snide answer, "When I had hair my resolution was to never making another resolution and I've been keeping it ever since." One of my favorite tactics, giving an answer without answering. I missed my calling in politics I guess. Bree-Yark!
More books. More books. More books. I have to retrain my brain to focus for long periods of time because that is gone. It's there. Somewhere. I just need to retrain it. Sit. Be quiet. Focus. Read. Do it after dinner. Do it in between things. Do it while waiting. I am so used to be on other people's time I've forgotten how to read a few pages while waiting for a doctor. Sitting in the parking lot. At night, before bed. That last one is dangerous, I've thumped myself a few times.
Reader Tip: If you read before bed, make it a paperback. You're welcome.
Part of the reading thing is to keep track of it. This blog will reflect on what I'm reading. I have no idea what shape that will come in. I want it to be more than a tally board of how many I read. I don't expect it'll be many because it'll take me longer to get through books these days. But want to look back a year from now and check my progress. And then set an improvement goal.
To all those reading this thank you. I hope you next year is full of good stuff. While I know it won't be without its shitty points, but I hope you are armed with the ability to get through it or have someone to help you through it.
Good New Year to you. To improving yourself. Making yourself better for those close around you. To improve those skills so when someone needs your help you are able to do it with grace and dignity.
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