I Finished My 75th Book of 2023!
Back at the end of April when I was finishing up my 25th book of 2023, I decided since the year was 1/3 over and I had already read so much that I was going to keep going and make my reading goal even bigger with 75 books read by the time December 31st hit. Today’s December 17th and I did just that-I read 75 books! But the year is not over yet and with two weeks to go I’m excited with what the total number will be in two short weeks. I’m so pleased I’ve come this far on my reading journey. I log all of my books on Goodreads and I was so pleased when I opened up an e-mail that said: “Congratulations. Based on the number of books you’ve read this year, you’re in the top 25% of readers on Goodreads!” It’s truly a remarkable accomplishment and I’m still so amazed that I’ve read this many books!
My 75th book of the year is titled What I Know For Sure by Oprah Winfrey. I didn’t choose for my 75th book to be any random book from the library or my bookshelf. This book is special to me and one I come back to every year as I always love hearing Oprah’s wonderful words of wisdom. She keeps it real and doesn’t hold back her struggles or the many adversities she’s faced in her life.This year marks my fifth time reading it. Every time I pick up this book theirs a certain theme I gravitate towards and a lesson that she brings up that really draws me in and intrigues me. Most people will wonder how you can come back and read the same book year after year. It’s really no different then watching a beloved classic holiday movie you can’t get enough of every year.
What I love most about this book is the eight themes Oprah talks about. They include joy, resilience, connection, gratitude, possibility, awe, clarity, and power. I think all of these themes Oprah discusses are so important when navigating this journey called life. Everyone has their fair share of ups and downs. It’s important to find purpose and meaning in those low points because they ultimately make us stronger and more resilient. Without those moments we would never fully be able to appreciate joy and gratitude. Gratitude is my favorite theme and something I practice every day. I’ve had a gratitude jar I’ve been using for the past five years and every day no matter how good or bad the day is, I write down at least one thing I’m grateful for. On the the really good days there are many things to write down, but on the hard days it could be something simple as playing my favorite sad Taylor Swift song on the drive home, watching a favorite F.R.I.E.N.D.S. episode, calling my sister to discuss the day, or simply just having the strength to keep going and survive whatever tough situation I endured.
Oprah loves reading and she makes it very clear in this book. Her life revolves around books. In a way I feel the same is true for me. I always like to end my day with a good book in my hands. My reading time is a huge part of my life and who I am. My favorite quote Oprah says in the book is: “Everything I do all day, I do in preparation for my reading time. I can’t imagine where I’d be or who I’d be without the essential tool of reading. I consider reading a good book a sacred indulgence, a chance to be any place I choose”. I could not agree more. No matter where you are in your life or how you are feeling a book has a way of transporting you into a world filled with imagination, characters, and endless possibilities.