Within the Bookends

It’s February, and I’m sitting in the Dominican Republic.

Back home, winter is still doing what winter does. Gray skies. Cold mornings. Heavy coats.

Here, the ocean is just steps away.

This is a work trip, not a leisurely vacation. My days are structured. There are meetings, conversations, and commitments. But there are also margins. Small pockets of time in the early morning or late afternoon where I can sit, breathe, and read.

Being here has me thinking ahead to spring break and summer. To the trips we’ll take. To the suitcases we’ll pack.

And to the books we choose to bring.

We Plan Our Clothes. Why Not Our Books?

When we pack for a trip, we think carefully.

Are our days packed with activities?

Will we be lounging by a pool?

Is there a long flight?

Are we driving?

Is this a family trip full of motion, or a quiet escape?

We plan our clothing accordingly.

But often, when it comes to reading, we just grab whatever book we are in the middle of and toss it into the bag.

And that is fine.

But it is also okay to pause and think about it.

Before this trip, I looked at my TBR (To Be Read) pile and chose intentionally. I brought a physical novel. I also brought my e reader, loaded with digital options. Both are fiction. Both are stories that feel lighter and immersive. This is a work trip, so I knew my reading time would be limited. I didn’t want something heavy or mentally demanding. I wanted something that could hold me gently in the margins of the day.

On the airplane, I had planned to read my physical book. But by the time I thought about it, my carry on was tucked safely in the overhead bin. My ereader was in my purse, within reach.

So I read digitally instead.

That small detail reminded me of something simple. If you know you want to read on the plane, make sure the book is accessible. Thinking ahead matters.

And if you don’t read what you planned, that is fine too.

My physical book is still here beside me. I haven’t opened it yet. Maybe I will on the return flight. Maybe I won’t. It will still be there when I get home.

Books are patient.

It Is Okay to Pause

There were other books on my shelf that I’m excited about. Some were large in size. Some were heavier in subject matter. They don’t intimidate me as a reader. They simply didn’t fit this trip.

Sometimes it is not about what you are most excited to read next. It is about what fits the space you are stepping into.

And sometimes, the right choice is to bring nothing at all.

If your trip is full of activity, family time, laughter, and movement, it is okay to let reading rest for a few days. It is not a failure. It is not falling behind. It is not losing momentum on a reading goal.

Reading is meant to support your life, not compete with it.

We are not trying to hit a magic number.

A Little Bit of Magic

And to my delight, I didn’t need to bring a book at all.

Tucked along a pathway here at the resort, I found something unexpected.

A free little library.

Opening that small door felt like stepping into a used bookstore. You never quite know what you are going to find.

Inside were books I had already read. A few that were on my TBR list. And others I had never heard of before.

I took some down. Added a few to my mental pile. Left others behind that simply did not speak to me.

And that was okay.

There was something comforting about it. A reminder that stories travel too. That readers leave pieces of their lives behind for other readers to discover.

I also noticed others reading here. Physical books with cracked spines. Ereaders glowing in the shade. Stories unfolding in different formats, held in different hands.

Reading looks different for everyone.

Looking Ahead

As we move toward spring break and summer, perhaps we can think about our books the way we think about our packing lists.

What kind of trip is this?

What kind of rhythm will my days hold?

Do I want something immersive? Light? Reflective? Or nothing at all?

You can bookmark the book you are currently reading and leave it at home.

You can bring a backup.

You can switch formats.

You can change your mind mid trip.

The book will wait for you.

It always does.