I recently reorganized my bookcase, but not in the usual way. Not by genre. Not by color. Not even by the author. Instead, I created something far more revealing: shelves dedicated to the books I actually intend to read this year.
It felt surprisingly grounding.
For years, my bookshelves have been a mix of aspiration and memory. Books I loved. Books I meant to read. Books I bought in a rush of curiosity in a used bookstore while visiting a city, when I swore I was “just popping in.” Books that followed me home with the quiet promise of someday.
Someday finally needed a container.
So I went through my shelves slowly and intentionally, curating three full shelves of books I want to read. Not books I feel I should read. Books I’m genuinely curious about right now. These shelves aren’t decorative. They’re directional.
And here’s the twist I didn’t expect.
Lately, I’ve been doing most of my reading on the Kindle app.
I always have my phone with me. It’s easier to read in bed without turning on a light or disturbing my wife. It’s helped me drift away from social media in a way that physical books, honestly, haven’t quite managed to do. And maybe, just maybe, it also has something to do with my almost-50-year-old eyes quietly asking for adjustable font sizes.
So instead of borrowing whatever catches my eye at the library, I’m trying something new. I first check to see if the library has a digital copy of a book I already own in paper form. That way, I can read digitally while still honoring the physical book on my shelf. When I finish, the paper copy goes into my little free library, ready for its next reader.
It feels like closing a loop.
This isn’t about getting rid of books altogether. I love living with books. I love seeing them. Touching them. Being reminded of who I was when I bought them.
But I also know myself.
I will always find the used bookstore. I will always feel the pull of shelves stacked two deep. If I don’t create space with intention, more will simply keep coming in.
So for now, this is my agreement with myself:
Nothing new comes in until the shelves I’ve dedicated are cleared.
There’s something hopeful about that. Not rigid. Not punishing. Just honest.
If book clutter has been quietly weighing on you, here are a few gentle ways to begin:
- Create a “to-read this year” shelf and let everything else wait its turn.
- Borrow digitally what you already own physically to make reading easier and more accessible.
- Release finished books forward through swaps, Little Free Libraries, or to friends who will love them.
- Pause before purchasing and ask, “Do I already own something that satisfies this curiosity?”
This isn’t about minimalism or doing it “right.” It’s about honoring what you’ve already invited into your home with the intention of engaging with it fully.
Reading the books I already own feels like a small act of respect. For my space. For my time. For the version of me who believed each book was worth bringing home in the first place.
And maybe that’s the real goal: not fewer books, but a deeper relationship with the ones that remain.
Reading, Together
One of the things I’ve been craving lately is community around reading, without the pressure that sometimes comes with traditional book clubs. No required title. No deadlines. No fear of being the one who didn’t finish.
So we’re creating a Bee Yoga Fusion community gathering centered around books. You don’t need to prepare. Just come as you are.
Bring the story you recently read. We’ll gather to share what’s been moving us, surprising us, or simply keeping us company lately. If you’re inclined, you’re also welcome to bring a book to swap. A story you’ve finished and are ready to release forward. No pressure here either. Listening counts just as much as sharing.
This isn’t a book club in the traditional sense. It’s a circle of people who love books, stories, and meaningful conversation. A reminder that reading doesn’t have to be solitary, structured, or perfect. Sometimes it just needs a place to land.
When: Wednesday February 11th at 7:30pm
Where: Bee Yoga Fusion coaching room
Free for Bee Yoga Fusion members.
Non-members are welcome with a suggested donation of $5.
Donations support community programming and space-holding.
