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Geetright t1_j6in6b4 wrote

The right to not feel guilty about all the hours invested in reading as opposed to being out with real people lol

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icarusrising9 t1_j6jcjkf wrote

Hell dude, forget guilt, you should be proud!

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Geetright t1_j6jeb50 wrote

I appreciate that, mate. It's something I struggled with on my 20's and early 30's. I always felt compelled to be out in the world with people, socializing and stuff, but most of the time I really only wanted to be immersed in a good book. Now that I'm married and a little older it doesn't bother me as much. Reading is so much more rewarding than getting drunk or whatever with people. Reading is certainly more challenging on an intellectual level and much more enjoyable!

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SonnyCalzone t1_j6k0hvi wrote

If I could exchange some (not all, but some for sure) of those countless hours I squandered during my 20s and 30s with socializing and being on stages with the bands, I would easily do so, especially if it means that I would have enjoyed reading books more often.

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Geetright t1_j6k1af0 wrote

Agreed, it's really a quality of life issue and the misconceptions of youth that the quality of life is all about being with other people, doing people things, but that's not necessarily the case... as we find out only by doing those things and experiencing a poorer quality of life. Youth truly is wasted on the young, as they say!

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SonnyCalzone t1_j6k4iyd wrote

Well-said. I'm much happier solo than I ever thought possible during my 20s and 30s. It also helps that I have no spouse, no kids, no pets, few distractions and even fewer responsibilities.

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Character_Vapor t1_j6ndi8y wrote

>Reading is so much more rewarding than getting drunk or whatever with people

Getting drunk and reading is the best of both worlds. Tucked into a corner with a glass of port and a book in my neighborhood bar on a (non-busy) weeknight? Nothing better.

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Maximus361 t1_j6k1gyu wrote

Why would you feel guilty for that? That concept never even crossed my mind and I’m over 50.

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Geetright t1_j6k2bly wrote

I'm nearly 50 myself. In my 20's and early 30's for some reason I had this fear that if I wasn't putting myself out there, socializing, being with people that I was wasting my time, or my youth. Obviously, in hindsight, that was an irrational fear based on nothing but my own (usually low) self esteem. Eventually, I met the right woman, now my wife, and realized how stupid that thinking was and am now perfectly comfortable with myself and the things I want to do... namely being a voracious reader. It was just a folly of youth, that's all.

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hashtagsugary t1_j6k24bx wrote

So much this, when people ask me what I’m up to and I tell them I’m reading a book and they say “oh, so you’re free?”

Uh… no? I just told you what I was doing.

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DeborahJeanne1 t1_j6koa6d wrote

Exactly. Even if it’s Saturday night.

IMO, there’s nothing better than being alone on a Saturday night, in comfy jammies, curled up on the couch as it snows outside, while you immerse yourself in the book of your choice.

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