There is nothing like a good book. Right now where I live we are in the middle of the long, cold months of winter. One of my favorite things to do on these cold days is to get cozy at home with a good book to read. I embrace the joy of reading and appreciate all the good that it brings to my life.
The other day I went to our town’s public library to check out a cookbook I’ve been wanting. It had been years since I’d been in the library and I was instantly taken back to the sweet days of my kids’ childhood. We used to spend so many days, hours at a time, visiting the various libraries in our county.
My kids would feast their eyes on all the stories, pictures, information and resources they could find. I tried to raise my children with the joy of reading and an exposure to the vast world of information and imagination available to them between the covers of a book. Being back in that library reminded me of the joy of reading and all the good that is available to us simply by reading a book.
Reading is Accessible
Our access to books today is unprecedented. We can read books on our phone, computer, tablet or we can listen to them in our car. We can buy books at the book store or order them online. Simply by being a resident of the United States, we have access to public libraries and all the books and resources contained within. We have access to books from other countries, local authors and everything in between.
Reading is Good for Your Health
The articles on the health benefits of reading are endless. Studies show that reading reduces stress, increases intelligence, expands knowledge and understanding and improves memory. These are just some of the known benefits of reading. You can read more about the benefits of reading here and here.
Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.
Sir Richard Steele
Reading is a Positive Distraction
Often reading is something that we’re required to do in school as a child and then gets lost in the busyness and shuffle of our lives. Other forms of entertainment fight for our attention and our time, especially in our digital age. Reading can be a great way to turn away from stress, negativity and constant electronic bombardment. Opening a book is a positive distraction that has the potential to bring so much good to our lives. You can read more on the benefits of positive distractions here.
Reading Helps Relationships
Many people tend to prefer the social activities and networking that connect us to people rather than the solitude of time spent reading. However, the truth is that reading can be social too. There are book clubs, discussion groups, new knowledge to add to conversations, reading aloud to children and teaching the knowledge that you learn.
Reading is a Privilege
Reading should not be presented to children as a chore, or a duty. It should be offered as a gift.
Kate DiCamillo
I love this quote by our local author, Kate DiCamillo. She has written so many wonderful children’s and young adult books that my daughter loved. The quote so perfectly states how I feel about reading. I think that for both children and adults reading a is great privilege and gift that we have. We are blessed to be able to expand our minds, learn, grow and escape by reading a book.
We have the opportunity to add so much good to our lives simply by reading. Yet it is something that we have to constantly choose to do in this age of other forms of entertainment and information. Being able to read and having access to books is a privilege that not all have. I urge you to take advantage of that privilege and embrace the joy of reading.
Challenge for this week:
If reading is not something you love to do or is something you haven’t done in a while, try one of these suggestions below. The options for reading and your preferences have probably changed over time and you just might be surprised by what you discover!
- Put down your phone, close your computer and open a real book. Remember the joy of turning actual pages and getting lost in the story.
- Take advantage of your resources by visiting your local library or joining a book club.
- Use social media to follow book recommendations and book clubs on Instagram, GoodReads, Twitter or Facebook.
- Try a new genre of reading like non-fiction, biography, religious study or history.
- Go back to and read one of your favorite books. Even if you have read it before, it can ignite and remind you of the joy of reading.