Jordan Beaven

One of the Owners of a local independent bookshop called Tea Leaves & Reads reached out to me last week. It was a lovely message saying how she saw my engagement in some of the Facebook groups I participate in. She asked if I happened to be in our local hospital and kindly offered to drop a bookish box into the hospital for me as an act of kindness.

I was totally blown away by this and the day this lady delivered my bookish box to the ward, I happened to be in Southampton having a follow up appointment with my Foot & Ankle Surgeon. It was a hard appointment for many reasons as recently things have become much tougher with me and my mental health is suffering. However, on coming back to the ward I wheeled myself into my room to find a gift bag with a beautiful box inside and the latest book magazine! I was totally blown away by the kindness! Not only that but Tea Leaves & Reads donated a bag of full of book magazines and another gift too. I was totally in awe as I have wanted to visit this shop since finding out it had opened earlier this year.

I unfortunately, as most know, have been in hospital since December last year. It has meant I have become incredibly isolated and do not find much joy in things anymore. I also worry about leaving the hospital when the time comes for discharge, as I know just how inaccessible the world is for those who are disabled. I expressed my concerns to the owners of the bookshop and was reassured that I would be able to access the bookshop due to the way they have led the shop out. Hearing this just made me so happy, knowing that there is at least one place that I really want to go to, that is also accessible has given some flicker of excitement to get out of hospital and enjoy a little bit of the real world!

The Bookish Box I received hasn’t been given to me for the purpose of working with the Bookshop but simply as an Act of Kindness from seeing my posts within a group online. They haven’t asked for this blog post or for anything to be shared online in return but I thought it was only appropriate to do so. The kindness and thought they have put into this is incredible and I have loved every part of the box, even down to the little decorations!

Overall it was a wonderfully, thoughtful, random act of kindness! I have loved everything that I have been gifted which I just knew that I would. The book seems very fitting for my situation at the moment and I am excited to be able to sit down and read it. I have a few on my TBR that I need to read and I guess that means I also need to finish my Current Reads whilst I am at it too! However I know that I am going to love this book a great amount as it is the sought of read I need in times like this!

Again thank you so very much to the Owners of this wonderful bookshop, I cannot wait for the day I get to come up and Visit in person! Until then it looks like it’ll be the method of Social Media for now!

Remember to look after yourselves, reach out to those around you for support if you need it! If you plan to use a book for escapism let me know in the comments what you are Currently Reading!