Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl
I was planning to revisit my goals for 2025, but as I looked back at them I realized that I didn’t really accomplish any of them last year other than being excited that we’re getting a TV show made from Margaret Atwood’s The Testaments
. These past few years have included some hard times for me and my family that included death and a few family members who were diagnosed with serious or life-threatening illnesses among other stressors.
While things are steadily improving and I’m quite hopeful 2026 will be much better for us all, I honestly haven’t had a ton of extra time or emotional energy for doing things like joining a book club, visiting new bookstores, or making a ton of new friends.
Therefore, I’m recycling a whole bunch of my goals from last year and hoping to actually accomplish them this year.
1. Read more non-fiction
I’m especially interested in science, medicine, memoirs, and history.
2. Visit one new independent bookstore
Visiting one seems much more do-able than trying to check out multiple places.
3. Take myself on tea or donut dates
Toronto has some incredible coffee shops that I need to visit more often.
4. Strike up conversations about books with strangers or acquaintances when appropriate
Every so often I see someone at the coffee shop or on the subway who is reading a book I really loved. I’m going to try to be less shy and tell folks they’re reading fantastic stories. This might be a way to make some new friends or even just have a nice conversation.
We still need a platonic version of OkCupid for bookish people, though! 😀
5. Practice handwriting five minutes a day
I have always had sloppy handwriting, but I do want to make it slightly more legible this year if I can.
6. Read in the park more often (weather permitting, of course)
I love books and nature, so why not combine them more often than I currently do.
7. Read less young adult fiction
It rarely speaks to me anymore.