Answer this question quickly, without thinking:  do you ever stay up too late reading a book you just can’t put down?

I would not hesitate to do that! Even though I would pay for my choices the next day by feeling tired, awful, groggy, etc.

Actually, I just did this! It was one of the books I judged for the Rita contest. The best thing was, it was a book in a genre I never would have picked to read on my own. That was the beauty of it. I discovered something outstanding where I least expected it. And it was awesome!

I was thinking about this, and I came to the conclusion that this trait (of saying, the hell with tomorrow, I’m finishing this book!) might possibly be linked to other traits. People who stay up too late reading love and value the experience of a good read so much that they are willing to suffer a little the next day for it. It speaks to a sort of impulsiveness. A “life is too short!” philosophy. A romanticism. A “what the heck, let’s do it!” mentality. A joie de vivre. More on the romantic than the practical side of life. An ability to get excited about things that maybe everyone does not have. A live life to the fullest and pack all you can into it kind of thing.

So are people who stay up too late reading more willing to jump impulsively into a car and make a long trip to visit someone even though it’s not the most practical thing to do? Are they more willing to reach out to other experiences that are not always practical because of the life is too short not to attitude?

You will have to let me know what you think. All I know is, my husband, a practical man, would absolutely not stay up all night reading. It simply isn’t what he would do. He would value his sleep and his functioning the next day more than the complete pleasure of reading that book. (But then, this is also a man who went to bed with a half hour left of the world series when the game was tied and went into overtime.) I mean, the man loves his sleep, what can I say. Maybe this goes along with the calm, even, steadfastness of his personality, traits which I love. But recklessly impulsive…no, I definitely would not label him as that.

I will leave you to ponder this (or not) as I return to finish that amazing book I mentioned above. Although later I just might need a nap 🙂

Happy week!