I love books. I’m a total book nerd. I love the smell of old libraries, I love to learn, I love curling up with a good book, I love being transported into a world that’s not my own. The result of all this loving going on? Hundreds and hundreds of books. I have books from when I was a kid. I have books from by Bachelor’s degree, I have books from going through Seminary, and I have books I’ve picked up along the way at different points in my journey.
I recently moved and for all my love of books, I do not love moving books. Even the small sized boxes are extremely heavy. When you have to physically carry the weight of your possessions, it really makes you think about the importance of said possessions. I’ve decided that the next time I move, I do not want to carry so many books. I decided, then, that I would need to determine those to read, and those not to read—those to keep, and those not to keep.
And so yesterday, I began sorting through my beloved friends. So many are attached to memories—to different seasons in my life, different places I’ve lived, different experiences I’ve had. Good memories. Some books I just couldn’t let go of. I have some favorites I want to share and pass on to my daughter. I have some books I’d like to read again, and still others, that I’ve owned for years and never made the time to read. But, I want to make the time.
As I sorted through books and walked down memory lane, with each book I asked myself these questions:
- Does it bring me joy or make me happy to own this book?
- Does it have a purpose? Will I use it in my current profession? Will I read it again, or do I want to share it with my daughter, or another friend or family member?
- If I haven’t read it, will I realistically ever read it? (This question was hardest, and I had to be really honest with myself and answer ‘no’ to a lot of them)
Well over one hundred twenty books didn’t make the cut, and I imagine that the next time I sort, even more will meet this same fate. There is a wealth of knowledge stored in those books (and a lot of money spent), but it is time to let go and let them befriend someone else. Part of me is sad to let them go, but the other part of me rejoices that this will be the last time I carry them. And, hopefully, they will find their way into the hands of someone else that will read them and love them as I have.