Being Reading Deprived

Reading deprivation is described in The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron as a tool for "Recovering a Sense of Integrity" (chapter title in the book).  The goal: not to read for an entire week!  Result expectation: to launch participants into gainful soul-searching and integration of new self-awareness.   Personally, I exempted reading my Bible and reading my daily prayers.   It turned out that now I'm wonderinf if there's such a thing as being addicted to reading.  Not that I got the shakes as in DT's or got to the point of feeling crazy with the lack of pleasure reading.  No, but I did find myself unable to reach the land of Nod for my restorative slumber.  The week-long deprivation, of languishing with a book and sleep, began on Monday, January 10, 2011.  Each night my ability to achieve the presence of Morpheus deteriorated.  Last night, thinking, "I'm more than half way to being able to read again!  I ought to be able to lie down and go right to sleep." Ha, not so!  After the clock on my bookshelf radiated the time, just past 2:00 a.m., I rose, ate some yogurt, thinking that maybe I needed a milk product to nourish the slumber state.  A few more minutes pass by- tick, tick, tick. Consequently, I surrendered to my need to read.  As a result, I read for a few minutes, turned off the light and welcomed Mrs. Sandman.

Well, did I achieve what the aim of reading deprivation?  I'm choosing to think positively and vote yes.  I have written more than I have before this chapter.  My achievements for the past four days-

• eight finished scrapbook pages in my Christmas album
• memoir writing continued, not touched since the last century! :O
• bookshelves in my bedroom organized
• increase in quantity of Morning Pages (another tool in The Artist's Way)

Am I proud? Yes.  Will I continue reading The Artist's Way?  Yes, with renewed vigor and hope to fulfill my 2011 goal of combining writing and photography; and the wish to retain my trust in God.