Now this is a day I think most readers are more than happy to celebrate!

D.E.A.R. stands for "Drop Everything and Read," a national celebration of reading designed to remind families to make reading a priority activity in their lives. This day is celebrated every year on April 12th for author Beverly Cleary’s birthday. D.E.A.R. time was a reading practice featured in the Ramona books.

Although, I have read almost every day for many years and since retiring even more, there were times in my life when work and family commitments made it difficult. We squeeze so much into a day, it is a constant hustle to 'get things done' and this is most probably not 'healthy' for mind or body. Escaping into a fictional world, having downtime from every day stresses and just letting ourselves 'breathe', needs to be a daily priority. Yes, I can hear you shouting - but how?

Well, simply put be selfish. Take time for you. Hide in the laundry room, your car, grab a drive through and then park, before or after grocery shopping sit for a while. (if you don't have the kids with you!) Or read your kids a story and when they fall asleep, instead of rushing to do chores stay and read. Make reading an event in your household - a carpet picnic and a book, bedtime stories, or 'quiet' time without technology.

Enjoy the day on 12th April.