Welcome to my new site!
Read No-Injury Policy
C.M. HUMPHRIES
  • Home
  • Less Taken Pod
    • Less Taken Blog
    • Store
  • Library
    • No-Injury Policy >
      • All Things Beautiful Excerpt
      • Facade
  • Delusions (Blog)
  • Connect
  • Home
  • Less Taken Pod
    • Less Taken Blog
    • Store
  • Library
    • No-Injury Policy >
      • All Things Beautiful Excerpt
      • Facade
  • Delusions (Blog)
  • Connect

Forbidden Blog

Fear, focus, and the future. Here, C.M. Humphries writes about whatever. ​

8/19/2012

0 Comments

Can a Kindle Help Rekindle Your Relationship?

 
Before you read this there's a good chance you checked your Facebook. If you scrolled around your news feed, you might've also scoffed at all the wishy-washy relationship nonsense. Let's not kid ourselves. Sometimes you wonder if anyone has a working relationship. But here's the thing: I stumbled across the answer and I'm going to provide the first step towards a working relationship for free. Now, this post has little to do with eReaders (as the title might've implied) and more to do with books, both digital and print. Ladies and gentlemen, future avid No-Injury Policy readers, prepare yourselves for bibliotherapy. 

Break a spine, not a heart. 

Picture
Whenever a relationship starts to dwindle, a few unfortunate events are likely to take place. The best of the worst scenarios involves a simple break-up. The worst of the worst involves cheating, manipulation, abuse, etc. So how to we try to keep our relationships going, especially marriage? 

Obviously, the first method is talking it out. This rarely goes as well as planned unless the relationship consists of two down-to-Earth individuals. Another procedure might be marriage counselling. How about self-help books? They're everywhere, right?

However, according to positive results in England, the answer is fiction. The procedure is known as bibliotherapy. 

The first thing you would need to do is sign up here. Now, of course, all therapy costs money. If there's some kind of psychological or sociological dilemma, people are always there to help you . . . for a price.

All dark humor aside, you sign up and meet a group of three therapists during a session. You tell them absolutely everything. You say what's wrong with the relationship and so does your significant other. Easy enough so far, right?


Here's the tough part, but it's shown results. During bibliotherapy, both you and your significant other are assigned a list of literature to read. There's a heavy focus on fiction, but there's also poetry, philosophy, and so on. The idea is that these books are carefully selected because they portray the very issues you're having in your relationship, and they offer provide clever simulations in the same manner almost all fiction depicts human interaction. You'll be able to see how certain things affect your loved one, and vice versa. 

You've gotta stick with it

Picture
In many westernized nations, "culture" (meaning the arts) is turning into an occasional experience. You might read book on the weekend or visit a museum. 


It's strange how we only embrace the arts  when "we have time for it", when really the entire concept of culture is to provide examples by which we can better understand how to pursue certain things in our lives and how we can cope with so many different social circumstances. Art's the manual for life, but how many of us actual read manuals?

I'll admit that I spend more time on the Internet than on the pages of books, and the result it negative. Social media outlets, although I love their ideal usage, really just bring us down. A lot of information on the Internet is either junk or factual. More often than not, we like the trash rather than the useful information. Don't believe me? Check out this post on CNN providing games on their newsite. 

So the deal is, when you explore bibliotherapy and receive your list of books, you have to read them. We're talking about people with PhDs spending countless hours coming up with just the right set of books that are most crucial in this moment of your life. We're talking about cracking open a spine to a book that will distance yourself from your current thinking and open your mind. It'll be that song you can relate to when you're down.

Now I cannot say this therapy will save all relationships. What I can say, though, is I've been working on it since before it had a name. Whenever I need a fresh look on life, I try to pick out the book that jumps off the shelf during certain moments. I get lost in books, and when I return, I feel a lot better. Books are therapeutic.  And that's my next point, this form of therapy isn't just for couples. 

It's not only for couples. 

Picture
If you're personally feeling depressed, anxious, lonely, curious, etc., the same set of bibliotherapists will prescribe books specifically to your case. These are people who will listen and who will set you up with exactly the story you need to read at a certain moment in your life.

In a world of Amazon and Barnes & Noble, it's interesting to see how neglected significant literature is. I'm not removing the wool from anyone's eyes when I say the books in these stores are almost strictly mainstream and super-duper corporate - the kind of books for which the author's name is more important than the title or story itself. 

But go into a B&N and tell them how you're feeling and ask them to prescribe the perfect book. They'll probably snicker and rush to pick out a book with similar themes, but they won't let you spend hours upon hours in the store trying to match a book to your emotions. Plus, ever pay attention to the other art forms you consume when you're down? Angry people like angry music. A broken heart likes a sad song. Over-analytical types enjoy art they can't fully figure out.You need someone else with a lot of literary experience to prescribe a book for you. 

So here's my thought on all this: If you really want to keep a relationship going, slap money together for vacation in the United Kingdom, and drop by Britain for your first bibliotherapy session. You'll have a list of great books to help your relationship out - that is if you're truly dedicated - and you'll be on a spontaneous trip in another country. Unless of course you're already British. 

You Might Also Enjoy:

Bibliotherapists - The School of Life
Anxious? Depressed? Literate? Try Bibliotherapy
Bibliotherapy
10 Fictional Places to Visit
Saturation, featuring Ellen Hopkins
Read While You Sleep
Casual Sex and Casual Reading
No-Injury Policy
Excluded
Stories
More Blogs
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    About

    Fear, focus, and the future. C.M. Humphries talks about writing, horror, and whatever. 

    Archives

    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    March 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009

    Subscribe.
    ​We'll keep in touch.

SUBSCRIBE
Picture
© 2009-2022 C.M. Humphries. Any unauthorized use and/or duplication of the content without expressed and written permission from the site and content author/owner is prohibited by law. ​ Not intended for audiences under the age of 13 years old.
Photos used under Creative Commons from moedermens, hans s, gidovd, Federico Limonta, Marcin Wichary, heather aitken, Caren Mack Photography, Guilherme Yagui, Latente 囧 www.latente.it, miss_rogue, quinn.anya, Javier Kohen, sampitech, Gerald Gabernig, the_black_room, Bernt Sønvisen, jamalfanaian, andrewrennie, Elizabeth/Table4Five, quirin.thalhammer, swruler9284, Kryziz Bonny, Miguel Virkkunen Carvalho, chuck4x5, Mountain/\Ash, Jonathan Kos-Read, Niels_Olson, h.koppdelaney, Matthew Paul Argall, DidWee, Sweet One, osseous, Tony Webster, maf04, Gustavo Minas, poptech, r.nial.bradshaw, marcoverch, emilianohorcada, porschelinn, markbyzewski, dannywebs, amanessinger, declanandrews, Artotem, M. Martin Vicente, davescaglione, Gamma Man, ell brown, glasseyes view, LukeDetwiler, ephotography, Luiz Fernando / Sonia Maria, Filter Collective, cdedbdme, mhx, Enokson, gagilas, Max Wolfe, Ted Van Pelt, Sigfrid Lundberg, Sean Loyless, Mr. T in DC, Key Foster, marimbajlamesa, Fitsum Belay/iLLIMETER, Vectorportal, Alberto_Montoya, carianoff, luc.viatour, >>> Silly Rabbit, Trix are for Kids <<<, electricnerve, Nanagyei, crimfants, Editor B, gordontarpley, eleanor ryan, eviltomthai, shanon wise, dutchlad, Rick Moerloos, Poetprince, david_shankbone, Kurt and Sybilla, Abode of Chaos, grilled cheese, quinn.anya, Xoan Baltar, Marko Milošević, little blue hen, uzi978, SweetOnVeg, procsilas, Robin Hutton, Thruhike98, zaneology, Cameron Nordholm, CarbonNYC, Enderst07, dollen, LunaMoth116, swanksalot, aturkus, ElvertBarnes, Paul Jerry, Pip R. Lagenta, Joshua Kaufman, currybet, Oh-Barcelona.com, Joe Shlabotnik, Will Folsom, Helena Liu, David.R.Carroll, Robert Bejil Photography, Patrick Doheny, Hachi Gatsu, Justin Marty, Julie Lyn, Scott LePage, Daquella manera, Markusram, ginnerobot, Zach Linder, StevenW., denn, h.koppdelaney, TheeErin, aaron.michels, davidflanders, Dustin and Jenae, Mike "Dakinewavamon" Kline, mr_t_77, gordontarpley, brewbooks, coconut wireless, Håkan Dahlström, Mr. T in DC, urbanshoregirl, cathyse97, The Cleveland Kid, iamliam, andy jou, 666isMONEY ☮ ♥ & ☠, julesxt, MonkeySimon, Carlos Aguilera Espinosa, twentymindsomething, Xanetia, ♣♦♥♠, vonguard, sillygwailo, Geraint Warlow, Alyssa L. Miller, chadmagiera, how will i ever, Parker Knight, Unhindered by Talent, wwarby, teresawer, Lo & Behold >> Shrie L. Spangler, Larry Tomlinson, magnetbox, Very Quiet, prendio2, j_anet, timhettler, David Boyle, hang_in_there, krossbow, robertrice, Schmirn, Fitsum Belay/iLLIMETER, an iconoclast, samlavi, Ron Bennetts, Jagz Mario, eugeneflores, LetTheCardsFall, Rochelle, just rochelle, JaseCurtis, Ivan Marianelli, Dave Catchpole, mike 23, ANSESGOB, Catalin Vrinceanu, kio, kevin dooley, Amanda M Hatfield, Smath., rick, Grace Hebert, auntjojo, Kryziz Bonny, jwillier2, Al Pavangkanan, anokarina, my camera and me, IntangibleArts, Pink Sherbet Photography, hodgers, arohasilhouettes, Neal., greenfaerietree, sidewalk flying, Miles B., Luxxian Flair, amelungc, romana klee, dcJohn, Mitchypop, simonsmith001, Bruna Schenkel, zayzayem, KJGarbutt, simonlesleyphoto, torbakhopper, Glutnix, Panegyrics of Granovetter, Karamellzucker, h.koppdelaney, Photos by Mavis, perpetualplum, FutUndBeidl, NASA Goddard Photo and Video, b0jangles, suburbandollar, UnnarYmir, ohdarling, amulonphotography, Zach Dischner, _Fidelio_, OakleyOriginals, andertoons, little blue hen, rococohobo, FutUndBeidl, Pop Culture Geek, ben.chaney, theilr, genvessel, mariachily, Seth Mazow, Looking Glass, jslee_, lindsayloveshermac, Brett Jordan, AndYaDontStop, danperry.com, functoruser, gcfairch, Mikamatto, Thomas Claveirole, goodnight_photography, cometstarmoon, Ack Ook, Don Hankins, celesteh, Pip R. Lagenta, Cpt<HUN>, stvcr, Andreas.