The Collection I Wasn’t Looking For

When was the last time you looked at a magazine? Maybe it was your last doctor’s appointment when you browsed their coffee table selection while you waited to be called back? Maybe it was your last hair appointment when you needed a style idea to show your stylist? Maybe you haven’t picked up a magazine since childhood.

What if I told you that lately, I have been reaching for magazines before I reach for my phone?

A few weeks ago, my phone notified me, as it always does, of my screen time. And let me tell you, the number of hours I spent on my phone during that week was appalling… thirty-six hours. That is 2,160 minutes. That is a day and a half that I spent looking at a phone screen.

And I decided that I didn’t like that number being that high anymore. So I thought about something I could do instead. Of course I could always read; I have plenty of books sitting on my shelves that are crying out for me to pick them up, but a book requires more time, attention, and commitment.

A magazine, on the other hand, can be ten to twenty minutes of plain curiosity. Something catches your eye; you read the article. Maybe you learn something new, like a gardening tip or a historical story, or even other ideas about slowing down and noticing the small things. And then you are done with that section. No cliffhangers, no waiting for the next chapter or even the next book.

So my magazine collection began. Right now, it isn’t much. It is still in its growing phase. But the three that I have all offer a different kind of reading and a different kind of escape.

One lets me escape into folklore and fairy tales. Another is like wandering through an elven kingdom. And the third invites me to explore slower living in a different way.

Since making this small change, I have found myself reaching for a screen a little bit less and exploring subjects I may never have thought to search for on my own. And I now have a new collection to add to whenever I see a magazine that I want to dive into.

I challenge you, fellow wanderer, to find something new to pick up, even if just for one day. Maybe it’s a magazine. Or maybe it’s a newspaper. Maybe it’s an information guide for hiking trails in your area.

There are so many things waiting to capture our curiosity.

What could that be for you?

Until next time, my wandering companions. Perhaps something unexpected will catch your eye and lead you to a new collection too.