The sweetest, cheapest thing you'll do all week.
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| | | | Like many of you reading this, I'm an expert at overthinking my life. I have a PhD in scrutiny, as my therapist likes to say — especially when it comes to my romantic relationships. My brain is wired to find reasons a relationship won't work, instead of seeing the potential it has to be great. I'm really trying to stop doing this. | | Enter: today's newsletter. Recently, my boyfriend and I started reading out loud to each other, and I find it to be one of the sweetest, simplest ways to spend time together. Below, I turn into a total sap and tell you about why I love it so much. | | | | Love,
Ginger Wojcik
Newsletter Editor, Healthline | | | | |
| |  | | Written by Ginger Wojcik
April 26, 2024 • 4.5 min read | | | | | | | |
| |  | | | The best things in life are free | | The first time my boyfriend read out loud to me was from a book of short stories by the travel writer Tim Cahill. We were lying in bed together and, perhaps because one of us made a comment about wanting to read more, he picked the book up off of his bedside table.️ | | "This is called 'The Underwater Zombie,'" he started. "A zombie walks around all day in a rotten mood. Walking death does that to a guy. It's worse than bursitis."️ | | The bedroom was dark except for the warm glow of the lamp on his side of the bed. My phone was nowhere to be found, in fact, all the screens in the apartment were dark. I rested my head against his shoulder, encased in the familiar tenor of his voice. ️ | | When he finished the story, which was only a few pages long, we looked at each other and giggled. ️ | | I would reference a study that shows the myriad health benefits of fostering intimacy, but none of us need clinical research to know that human connection is vital to living a happy life. (And if you do, I suggest you go watch a season or two of the TV series "Alone," instead.) ️ | | My boyfriend and I don't read to each other every night or anything. We're not that cute. But we will if one of us comes across a story or article we think the other will appreciate, or if we happen to be curled up on the couch together with nothing else to do. ️ | | There is just something so comforting about hearing the sound of a loved one's voice. This, perhaps, is part of why this activity hits me so deeply. Even a silly story about underwater zombies can feel like magic when it's read to you by a person you love. ️ | | Your turn! What's your favorite way to connect with a partner? Let us know at wellnesswire@healthline.com.️ | | | | | | | |
| | | | Light it up | | | | | | |  | | Glocusent LED Neck Reading Light | | The only bad thing about my new apartment is that it only has one outlet in each room. To avoid running an extension cord across my room, I started using this neat reading light that wraps around your neck. Warning: It's not going to help you win any fashion awards. But it will help you see words on a page, which is worth it, in my opinion. | | | Every product we recommend has gone through either Healthline's or Optum Store's vetting processes. If you buy through links on this page, we may receive a small commission or other tangible benefit. Healthline has sole editorial control over this newsletter. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. Healthline and Optum Store are owned by RVO Health. | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Thanks for reading, everyone! Have a lovely weekend.
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