Prompt: Write about a piece (genre) of literature and how it influences the way you look at life.
A Romantic At Heart
I wish for this week I could regale and astound you with an impressive selection of literary masterworks that blew my socks off and set me on a course of great action. But instead I’d like to share with you some more of my story, specifically the great pain I went through having the world of books shut off from me for nearly two decades, thanks to psychiatrists who doped me up on strong dosages of bipolar meds that caused significant cognitive impairment.
What happened to me was I would attempt to read a book and would experience actual pain in my head as I tried to absorb the information on the page. I’d throw down the book in despair, cursing that I had to take these meds, constantly complaining to the doctors about my limitations, and then in an act of desperation started tinkering with my med doses on my own, only to get extremely sick and have to be hospitalized. Repeatedly. It was a horrible period in my life, and to make matters worse, I was literally surrounded by mountains of books here at home, as I was a voracious reader before I was put on meds at age 35. I’d stare at the bookshelves longingly, wishing I could read them, wondering if they would be closed off to me permanently.
But last year, something dramatic and ultimately wonderful happened. The dosage of one of my meds, Depakote, was cut in half by my psychiatrist, and soon I found myself writing again. By summer, I found myself joining my niece and delving into some contemporary romantic fiction my mom bought for us—nothing special, I just started with this book, “November 9” by the author Colleen Hoover who I had never heard of, but this was a start. Before I knew it, I was done with the book in two days, and eagerly plowing through five other Colleen Hoover romance paperbacks my mom had bought on Amazon.
On I would go to the Columbus Metropolitan Library downtown, where I checked out even more Colleen Hoover books, and asked a librarian to suggest additional authors specializing in contemporary romance. She gave me five names, and for the past three months I’ve been tearing through everything romance I can get my hands on. Yes, I think I may be reaching my limit with this rather mindless, guilty pleasure genre, but I’m honestly thrilled that I can now make it through an entire book without physical pain. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine getting both the writing and reading back, I’m ecstatic.
So when I’m asked to reflect on a piece of literature, or in my case the genre of romantic fiction, and how it influences my way of life, I can honestly say these types of books are opening a door long shut to me, and I’m eager to step inside and see what else awaits me in my rediscovery of the written word. My romances give me hope that I might return to the meaty fiction and nonfiction works I devoured so long ago before I fell so ill. I guess it’s all about starting with baby steps when you are learning to walk again, and being grateful for whatever progress you make each day. Right now it’s Easy Does It. And honestly, I’m enjoying this ride.