It’s strange how much your interests define you. I feel very acquainted with my interests since I’m Captain Introspection and I maintain a couple social networking profiles. Quick! Ask me my favorite anything, and I’ll give you a list in .349857 seconds.
Interests come and go, and once in a while they come, then go, and then come back. And, it feels like welcoming a friend home. When I was younger, I loved pools. I can’t really say I loved to swim. I just liked to be in pools. But, somewhere along the way, I stopped seeking out opportunities to spend time in pools, and then I was in middle school dealing with an array of body issues that made me not want to don a swimsuit. I’ve hardly been near a pool in the last few years. But, this weekend in Vegas, I was called back to the water. At first I was just going to read by the pool. Then, I was sitting on the edge of the pool soaking my feet. Eventually, I was in a bikini submerged in the cool water. Now, I’m planning out my next pool adventure.
I’ve experienced something similar with reading. When I was younger, I’d pick up a book and read, losing all sense of time until I heard my mom yell at me to do my chores. This continued on through high school and most of undergrad. Now in grad school, I read more than ever, but not the way I used to. I don’t lose myself. The hours don’t pass without me noticing. But, as I’ve discussed before, I recently started reading the Twilight series. Middle school Ashley would have loved these books, but 24-year-old Ashley, despite herself, likes them too. I don’t dare pick one up unless I have hours to spare. Last night I sat down to read at 7, and the next time I looked at the clock, it was midnight. I kicked myself for losing the time, but I had that warm and fuzzy feeling you get when something just feels right.
