With the week before Christmas now upon us (eek), I have found myself completely surrendering to the ritual of stress and panic that I try so hard to resist at this time of year.

School concerts, presentations, dance recitals, Christmas gatherings, elf antics, tree decorating, wish lists, postal system cutoffs, online ordering deadlines, Santa photos, carols, present planning, food ordering, and family road trips are all fighting for priority on my completely irrational and unattainable to-do list.

Having moved house just two weeks ago, any sense of time management or forward planning has been sucked down a sinkhole and spat out somewhere in the Indian Ocean.

I decided to relinquish my control of this list in the hope that it would dissolve into a lake of peace and tranquility featuring a little wooden boat bobbing around in the middle full of good books and a timeless schedule.

Enter the literary legacy of the remarkable novelist Jane Austen.

Amongst the chaos of Christmas, the recognition of her birthday this week (16th December 1775) brought me an odd sense of calm; I felt such a rush of gratitude to her for existing and writing her incredible works of romantic fiction. Born in Hampshire, England, her works continue to inspire readers almost two and a half centuries later. This is a tremendous accomplishment given that she died at the tender young age of 41.

Considering her first work of fiction, Sense and Sensibility, was published in 1811 at age 36, and her final work, Emma, only five years later, the legacy that her words have left behind is remarkable.

In the spirit of overcoming our holiday anxieties and crazy calendars, these five quotes by the author herself serve as inspiration to encourage us to lean into the slower pace of the holiday period, pick up a good book, and consciously choose reading as a remedy to the traditional fast pace of this time of year.

1. “If a book is well written, I always find it too short.” ~ Jane Austen

2. “I am delighted with the book! I would like to spend my whole life in reading it!” ~ Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey

3. “I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than of a book! When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.” ~ Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

4. “To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment.” ~ Jane Austen, Mansfield Park

 5. “Indulge your imagination in every possible flight.” ~ Jane Austen

The only question remaining is—what book will you choose?

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