RomantiCurious

What do you usually do to calm your mind or cure your boredom? A change of pace or place is always good advice. When this happens, a bookstore and then a cafe are usually my go to places to refresh my energy.

I remember Jordan Peterson saying in an interview that in order to write well, you need to read a lot and luckily, I am a voracious reader. I cannot say I write as well as my favorite authors but I can say I love reading and writing just seems to be a natural way for me to express my thoughts on what I’ve read as well as to reflect about my experiences.

So when I am getting bored and my mind is busy going to darker places instead of appreciating the sunshine and flowers – I read or I write. Sometimes, I also do some art or crafting. But I have not seen new books in so long so I thought the next best thing to do is to browse for new books in a bookstore.

There is a new branch of Fully Booked that opened near me and one of their main highlights is a dedicated Japanese section which includes not just Japanese authors but also special publications such as Ghibli journals, notebooks and other items.

I would have hoarded some Ghibli items if I had the budget but I did not. I love Ghibli films and have rewatched them several times. But today, I came here only to browse and indulge my senses in the vision of other worlds that books always give me.

Reading a novel for me takes me to a different world where I could forget my more mundane problems for a while and indulge in solving mysteries (which usually involve solving bigger problems) but with other people or fate helping the main character along the way.

Of course, there are the stories that don’t end happily but that makes us feel better about our own circumstances because we aren’t in a worse situation. Still, it’s how the characters tried to survive their situations that makes their story worth reading through to the end.

For more serious reading, non-fiction books are always great. Books that contain essays on different topics or a theme are also enjoyable. It’s like seeing how the author thinks so you gain a deeper understanding of their world-view. This also gives you a different perspective on the culture they came from and how their place in that society shaped their thoughts.

Books that require a lot of research to explain some phenomena that we always wondered about but never really pursued the answer to are also a great way to pass the time. Not only do you learn something new; you’ll be sure to have something unique and interesting to share in conversations afterwards. Books that tackle existential, or even extraterrestrial topics, are quite fascinating in this way.

Coffee table books that are easy to read and small enough to carry around are also one of my favorites. They are an easy way to pass away time while you wait for someone or while you take a break. They are especially handy when you just want to enjoy your “me time” in a cafe and don’t want other people to bother you.

After browsing through many more books, I thoroughly calmed my mind and even got some exercise from all the walking. Book hunting is always a good way to relax and while away the time if you have a need to wait for several hours during the day.

I have spotted several books that I’ve put on my wish list already so I can buy them next time I visit the bookstore. For now, I will pay attention to some of the books that I have not yet read and re-read some of my favorites too.