I’ve been listening to a couple of audiobooks I really enjoy, fiction that has me wrapped up in the story . . . but it turns out I can’t just sit and listen. Typically when I listen to books and podcasts I’m running, walking, driving, or cleaning. I get through quite a bit that way. But as I tend to listen to nonfiction (and read my fiction), it’s pretty easy for me to pause when I am no longer engaged in movement.
But I want to just listen to my book, so I need to figure out something to do with myself when I am no longer moving. In the past, I’ve pulled out an adult coloring book, though drawing isn’t really my speed. I have friends who do embroidery. Or puzzles. But I don’t like crafts. Or puzzles.
But my mom is always pulling out a deck of cards and playing solitaire so I’ve been trying it this week, playing an easy card game with myself while being read too. It’s quite enjoyable. Keeps my hands busy so I don’t rip up my nails or some other damaging fidget. I had my mom teach me a few other solitaire games so I could vary it. They are games I’ve seen her play in the past that looked very bizarre so it’s gratifying to at last understand them, even though I haven’t “won” these more complicated solitaire games yet.
Win or not, I have listened to a lot of my book the last few days and that’s how I really wanted to spend my afternoons–being wrapped up in a story and disconnected after working a full day in the morning (a 4:50 am – 1pm schedule is very interesting, effective for vacation, but a little jarring to normal rhythms).
With Love,
Natalie