I'm young. 20 years old to be precise so I'm yet at the beginning of what I hope to be a long jurney of collecting books. Still I feel I've already accumulated a respectable collection of writings of various genres and topics. Every once in a while there is a new addition to the ranks which always poses a problem. Where do I put it?

More often than not it ends up on my desk somewhere until one of the rare cleanups happen when it goes on top of other books because I can't be bothered to find a proper place for it while also making sense of the mayhem that threaten to not only break my desk but possibility time and space itself. Today however, I had enough. I was tired at looking at the books scattered across my room, or carelessly shoved into the shelf where the chaos from the desk now found a new home.

At some point when I first started filling my shelf there was something remenicent of a system; read fiction, unread fiction, political philosophy, interesting topics in general, plays, theatre related stuff and other. It took time but when order was finally restored I could step back and admire my work. I felt that I had reconnected with my books. It reminded me of why I got my hands on them and why I should read those I haven't gotten around to yet.

It also helped me deal with my guilt. I consider myself a reader. My family is a long line of teachers, scientists, engineers, researchers and writers. My family home has more walls that has bookshelves on them than don't, yet over the past few years I have not read nearly as much as I have wanted, or felt like I should. Depression is a bitch. Despite that I have kept acquiring books, maybe hoping to find the one I won't be able to put down, maybe to satisfy a need to keep up aperances, fooling myself by getting books at the pace I would like to read them despite being unable to.

I felt so guilty. I felt guilty towards my family for not living up to the academic standard set by generations, i felt guilty towards my friends for not having read this or that. However the biggest guilt I felt was towards myself for not consuming this wealth of knowlage, stories and ideas sitting right in front of my face. The simple act of touching my books helped me eliviate at least some of the guilt.

I don't know why but pulling them out, stacking them and put them back into place gave me the feeling that it was OK. it's not a race. I can take my time. Feeling their weight in my hands reinforced my bond to my books and reading in general. Stepping back and admiring my new, organised bookshelf was incredible.

My desk is once again a complete mess however.

TL:DR

Touch your books it will make you feel good.

Edit: Fixed some minor errors