Living Between Realities

As I age—and truly, I embrace aging—I’ve noticed myself retreating into my own tower of thought. Sometimes it’s a story I want to tell, other times it’s just a reflection tugging at me. My escape is blogging.

I once was an avid reader and even a sought-after book reviewer. These days, holding a book and finding one that will keep my attention feels challenging. But give me a good audiobook with the perfect voice, and I can be swept away in an instant.

My love for audiobooks probably came from my parents. When I was a teenager, cassette books became popular. On long drives or camping trips, the three of us would load up the car, and Daddy would pop in an audiobook. Usually it was an Agatha Christie mystery. At the time, I never realized how much my parents’ pastimes would shape mine.

To me, there’s nothing better than an audiobook read in a voice that’s pleasing to my ears. (I’m very big on how a voice sounds.) If the voice is off—whether in tone, texture, or rhythm—I can’t settle into the story. I’ll switch to the next option without hesitation.

A good audiobook is one that lets me close my eyes and not just listen, but see: the places, the people, the emotions. That’s when a story feels alive.

Of course, I also listen to inspirational, informative, or motivational books. And again, the right voice matters just as much. Sometimes I’ll even write while I listen. What I hear might inspire a blog, spark a thought, or challenge me to dig deeper.

Between audiobooks and blogging, I find my “take me away” moments. They help me drift into my thoughts, let go of the everyday, and sometimes even push myself to explore beyond my scope of understanding. Research, podcasts, audiobooks—they become tools for both escape and processing.

In the end, maybe it isn’t about running from my realities at all. Maybe it’s about finding new ways to hold them, release them, or see them with fresh eyes.