The Joy of Reading (as an adult)
Several years ago, I set a goal to read 25 books in 12 months. Since then, I’ve consumed over 120 books. And I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.
Here are four things that I am continually learning from rediscovering my love of reading.
Reading unlocks your imagination
Reading expands your horizons
Reading teaches you to empathize
Reading should bring you joy
Reading unlocks my imagination.
Within moments of starting a book, it is like a portal is opened to another world. I become Scott Kelley on the International Space Station, Alexander having the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, the soldiers raising the flag on Iwo Jima, or Saroo Breierley finally finding his birth mother after 25 years. If you haven’t read his book, “A Long Way Home” do it post haste.
I read to both of my kids almost every night, and we do the whole bit – voices, singing the words, reading the same book 5 times in a row - and I can see them getting lost in the stories. They love it! I love it! I can see my child-like self in them as they discover the worlds inside of books.
Reading expands my horizons.
Dreams and ideas are born from simply reading books! Everything around me fades as I lose myself in the story, and seeing that story unfold over an entire book is really amazing. And quite inspiring. It’s as if my world just opens up and gets even bigger. And I read every word. And if I’m not mentally present, I re-read what my brain missed. I relish the fact that books can tell the whole story – every single detail.
Reading teaches me to empathize.
5 words. That could have been me.
I make it a point to read things that challenge my thinking. I want to understand and feel the world around me, because those feelings inspire me to action. I become a better human by opening myself to the ideas of other people.
The world is so much bigger than just me! It is filled with people that I will never have the privilege of meeting. I’ve seen a little of the world first-hand, but for all the hundreds of places I’ve never been, and people I’ve never met, there are books.
Books offer a window into humanity that is right at my fingertips.
Reading should bring you joy!
During the first year of my journey, I focused on reading books that would help me personally and benefit my business. It was great. I learned a lot. But it was a bit tedious at times.
Then it hit me: for me, at least, a good work of fiction is like a palette cleanser – a glass of sparkling water with my espresso. It clears my mind and prepares me for the next book that will challenge my perception of the world.
As I finished my last book in 2017 – a novel – I realized this: it’s OK for reading to be an act of escape. To simply read for the pure enjoyment of the experience. I need imaginary worlds with impossible characters and fantastical stories, so that my brain can take a much-needed vacation.
So here’s my challenge to you.
Read! Read anything. Go to your local bookstore and browse. Find the books that interest you. Start small! If you’re into audio books (like me), Audible and Libby have a great selection that you can either buy or checkout for up to 14 days. If you want some accountability, start a “want to read” list on Goodreads and find some other friends and make it fun. Look for me on there as well – I’d love to trade recommendations.
Every time I pick up a book I want to read as if I’ve just discovered that I can read. And I want you to experience that as well.
You just have to start.
See what happens as you unlock your imagination.
See what happens as your horizons expand.
See your life transform as you start to empathize more.
And then just enjoy the experience!
Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird had this to say about reading:
“Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.”
If you only take one thing away from this article, I hope it’s this: pick up that book you’ve been meaning to read, dust it off, and start reading.
