March is recognised as National Reading Month, and its purpose is pretty straightforward: to encourage people to read, particularly children.

March was chosen as reading month to coincide with the birthday of Dr. Seuss. While as a man he was slightly problematic, as a children’s book author he delighted children and parents all over the world. My personal favourites of his books include Horton Hatches the Egg, Green Eggs and Ham, and How The Grinch Stole Christmas. (As a bonus, my least favourites are The Cat in the Hat and Fox in Socks.)

I am slightly embarrassed to admit that I had forgotten until a couple of days ago that this was reading month. I have, however, been trying to read more this month.

If you remember my post about my reading goal for this year from January, I said that I wanted to keep track of my reading as a way to monitor my mental health. If I get to the end of the month and I haven’t finished a book, what is going on?

In February I did not finish a book. I know exactly what was going on, but it was still kind of nice to have that measurement in place. I am by no means “over” my Dad’s death, and don’t expect to ever be, but both my parents instilled me with a love of reading.

At the bottom of his obituary where people sometimes ask for donations to a specific organization in leu of flowers, my family put this: “In memory of Jack, you are invited to participate in one of his favorite activities: create something, do a crossword, read a book, watch a movie, sneak some junk food when you think no one’s watching, laugh, and hug your children.”

My goal for this month was to try and remember that I am still alive and take the time to stop and enjoy things.

I know this post probably took a turn from where you thought it was going to go, but I promise the next few are going to be cheerier.