I have never been a big reader. It was a massive source of stress when I was in K-12 because I struggled with reading out loud and am classically slow at the task. There was a lot of pressure to be fast and accurate, which compounded my stress resulting in me labeling myself as bad at the exercise.
It wasn’t until I was well through college that I realized that there is a high chance that I am living with undiagnosed high functioning dyslexia.
I found audio books about 3 years ago but only really got into them this year. I used to think that audiobooks were ‘cheating’ because I didn’t have a physical book in my hand. After letting go of this belief system my world was open to thousands of books to be discovered through audio. This year I discovered my favorite type of audiobooks are memoirs. I truly enjoy learning from other’s experiences, especially from people I admire.
As I’m writing this I have consumed 20 books both audio and physical during the 2022 year. The thing is, I didn’t set out with a reading goal this year. So I am just as shocked to know that I have consumed this much content in the last 12 months.
Below is the list of books I have listened to or physically read this year.
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
Daring Greatly by Brene Brown
Will by Will Smith and Mark Manson
Speak by Tunde Oyeneyin
Dare to Lead by Brene Brown
A Promised Land by Barack Obama
Grit by Angela Duckworth
Finding Me by Viola Davis
Rising Strong by Brene Brown
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
Unbound by Tarana Burke
Me by Elton John
A New Model by Ashley Graham and Rebecca Paley
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
In Five Years by Revecca Serle
The Break Down by B.A. Paris
Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown
The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama
Last Seen Alive by Claire Douglas
Lead from the Outside by Stacey Abrams
This list is filled with athletes, professors, actors, singers, politicians, activists, and creators. All with different upbringing, socioeconomic backgrounds, races, ages, and sexualities. Looking at this complete list I pause to think about what it says about me. What does the content we choose to consume say about any of us? Looking at this list to me it says that I want to consume content that will teach me something. That I want to consume content from a diverse group of people. That I want to consume content that leads me to think deeper. That I believe listening to people’s stories is meaningful.
When I was young I wanted to be famous, partly because I wanted to write a memoir that people would read. Because maybe if I was known by the masses then I would be sealed in time by literature. The story of my life printed in pages.
As we move into the new year I encourage you to assess the content you consume and maybe download the audible app. Choose the content you consume with intention. I want to fill myself up through what I listen to and read. There is always something to learn from another person’s perspective. And don’t worry audiobooks aren’t cheating ;)