Reading Debate etc.

My lovely friends Molly Malone and Darla D. are engaged in a debate regarding the argument, "I don't have time to read." So I thought I'd weigh in on the issue.

I tend to favor Darla D's side (who is a librarian) - as a mother and full-time working person, she points to finding or making time to read, citing examples like reading at lunchtime, while waiting for the dryer to finish, on the bus. Its about one's priorities. If you can find time to watch American Idol, why can't you find time to read? This point is really driven home today, as it is National Turn off Your TV week. In my case, I take reading assignments with me on the bus from where I live on the Medical campus to Main campus where I study. I use to finish at least one book a weekend when I was traveling- reading on the plane back and forth from London, maximizing my time.

However Molly does bring up some salient views as well. She speaks on distractions that make reading hard, even if you are not doing anything else, like background noise, conversations etc. Also the attention span required to read is perhaps, more than someone can muster after a long day at work and than dealing with kids. Finally there could just be a segement of the population that doesn't like to read...which beckons the question, 'why use the no time excuse than?'

To me, reading has always been a part of my life, I love it! On one of my many weekend trips to London, I spent a Friday night at one of most central locations in town, Piccadilly Circus, holed up in the Waterstones bookstore - it was fabulous! But than to me reading has come easy. I suppose to those who have difficulty reading, this would not be pleasure; but that makes me sad, because there is a whole gigantic world out there you're missing from not reading. Besides they say the way to improve your reading is to practice i.e. read more (I use the same advice for standarized tests, they say if you want to improve your SAT, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, GRE's Verbal scores, read more!).

I hate when people use the excuse, "I don't have time" for any facet in life, not just reading. Not having time means either the thing you are being asked to do is not a priority to you (and why don't you just say that instead of feigning interest) or it means you suck at time management and you should admit that, it makes you more human than trying to pretend your so busy. I firmly believe if something is super important to a person, they'll make the time.

Sidenote - congradulations to the Danish Royal Family. HRH Crown Princess Mary and HRH Crown Prince Frederik had their second child, a girl, this past Saturday, April 21st. No name yet, but I have my fingers crossed for Alexandra, since they named their firstborn the name I wanted, Christian. Besides Alexandra is a family name (for example one Alexandra Danish princess married England's Edward the 7th, to become Queen of England back in the early 1900's).