3.6.5.

New Year’s resolutions can always be incredibly random, are often created for utterly selfish reasons, and tend to be easily forgotten within a few weeks of midnight on the 1^st. I’ve been guilty of having random, selfish, and easily forgotten resolutions in the past but as I grow older, I find myself looking for more challenging and substantive goals to resolve myself to achieve in the New Year.

This year is no different. A few days ago and I stated, randomly to be sure, that I wanted to read 365 books in 2013 as one of my resolutions. To which my coworker in Stalag 13 – a Ph D no less – replied with a cocked brow “that’s a book a day.” Yes, yes it is. One book per day and/or 7 books per week whichever manifests itself first. I don’t doubt this will be daunting as I attempt to find time within my day to make time for more reading. However, I read about 3-4 books per week as it is and like most professionals – between reading newspapers, essays, magazines, reports, and any other medium in written form I assume I already read the volume of 365 books or more in any given year.

But this isn’t a purely intellectual and fun expansion of one of my favorite hobbies for me to pursue alone. While in Afghanistan, I’ve noticed how many people – from the workers I see each day to the individuals I’ve met on my walks to those individuals I’ve heard about through the base community outreach program – do not know how to read. It has humbled me and made me literacy isn’t a right, or a given – no matter how much we’d wish it so – but a privilege.  I cannot imagine my world without books in it. I cannot imagine not being transported to the worlds within worlds I’ve been able to find in books. The rich characters, the daunting circumstances, the journeys and adventures, the tragedy and despair. My first travels were through the pages of books and from the page my imagination sprung and I was lucky enough to have parents who encouraged me to explore the world from a young age. But my origin was between creased and dog-eared pages. I cannot recall how many times I’ve fallen asleep reading or woken up to find myself surrounded by a multitude of books – ask any of my friend who’ve seen my bed…I sleep surrounded by books.

So beyond reading 365 books this year, I also want to engage the literacy community and donate/volunteer – I think teaching someone to read would sincerely be one of the most amazing experiences in my life. The ability to read is a gift everyone should enjoy and while I am definitely an avid reader, I’ve never committed myself to reading with such purpose or with such intended vigor. I look forward to the challenge and to finding a way to work with a literacy program. So this two-fold resolution begins today. Throughout the year, I will be chronicling the books I read, my thoughts about them, and highlighting the people along the way who have suggested the books I’m reading. Anyone reading this please feel free to share your suggestions as well. I have 365 days to go.