Reading can be many things to many people. For some it's a way to relax, for others it’s for learning purposes, and for someone like you and me reading on Candlemonk, it's a way to reach our read day :) Reading is not just limited to books, you can read anything and everything you like to read be it articles, blogs, Instagram captions.
Some may have found reading in their formative years while some pick up the hobby later in their life. Whether you came to love reading at five or at fifty, I hope the experience has become a significant and treasured part of your lives. And if you are someone who is not fond of reading here are some reasons why you should consider giving reading a shot.
Reading propels you to grow: The first step towards reading is to learn how to read. You learn alphabets than the meaning of words and then push yourself to interact with meaningless lines and reread them until they transform into stories, characters, and ideas. As children, we first mastered the art of reading picture books. Then you slowly update to books with some simple words and then move to books with pictures. After you had your basics figured out, you level upped and started reading novels without pictures. Subsequently, if you were a total badass you learned a totally different language and started reading books in that language. Reading is an exercise in perseverance, it constantly challenges you to achieve more than what you did when you finished your last book.
It allows you to experience multiple realities: We all have our uniquely valuable lives and we are living our realities defined by our own values, perceptions, and belief systems. But many of us, even if we are content with our lives and the roles, we play in them, often wonder what it would be like to live in a different place, work at a different job, or even be a completely different person. For brief moments of time, books free us from the constraints of our own reality. They have the power to take us beyond our world and transport us into someone else’s world be it real or imaginary.
Reading challenges your perspective of the world: When you experience life through the eyes of someone else, you experience multiple angles on life’s most trivial situations. Talented writers have the power to make you see the world from the eyes of their characters. The viewpoints can be different from your own and this can make you uncomfortable. Reading will not change your perspective overnight, but it will definitely allow you to understand other's viewpoints easily.
Reading can be your companion: During your life, you will encounter various transitional phases. You might change cities, schools, colleges, jobs these events may require you to replace old relationships with new ones, and sometimes adjustments are harder or it might take some time. In times like this, you can always count on your favorite books. They can provide a stable source of companionship. If you can relate your current situation to a character’s journey in a book, it can also provide you some comfort.
Reading can be reenergizing: You know the feeling you get when you are really immersed in a story. You can feel the tempo of the story and in some cases, you can even feel the emotions of the characters you are reading. It can be a satisfying and soul-filling experience. These experiences can slowly recharge your batteries and leave you feeling refreshed.
If you have read this far, Welcome to the tribe. And if you want your friends to start readings well, share this article with them and ask them to read it so that they too can join the tribe.
