Accessing that space came more easily in my twenties and early thirties (pre-kid). But it was becoming a parent — stopping reading, focusing on getting ahead professionally, and keeping house — that made me realize how much I needed reading to stay grounded and to avoid feeling stuck. Ironically, it was going through what I now call my sad girl years that clarified this even further: reading isn’t optional for me. It’s central to my mental health and my sense of self-worth. I know some people feel that way about exercise. I wish I were one of those people