Is reading beneficial? The answer is of course an emphatic yes. Reading takes you to places you could only dream of, introduces you to historical leaders and opens your mind to all possibilities. If you are an avid reader as I am, there is no doubt your life has been enriched by reading. Reading is entertainment, educational, relaxing, inspirational and so many other things. When I meet someone who declares they “never read” I am puzzled. I can just not imagine anyone not reading, I refrain from commenting my opinion but inwardly pity the poor soul for their loss.
Once I get into a story I become attached to my favorite characters, chuckle at the activities of some and maybe even shed a tear when tragedy strikes. A good book, to me, brings out your emotions, inspires you and enlightens you to new places and things. When I was young I thoroughly enjoyed the Nancy Drew series and the characters within and of course who didn’t enjoy the works of Louisa May Alcott. I kept a flashlight hidden under my bed so I could read once the lights were turned out.
As I grew older my taste for reading spanned the gauntlet of genres, classics, horror, mystery, paranormal, historical and I learned so very much from them all. Stephen King had me checking the closet and under the bed before sleep, Ann Rice made me want to visit New Orleans, Agatha Christie appealed to the sleuth in me, J.R.R. Tolkien took me to a fantasy world and so many others that uplifted, scared, entertained and enlightened.
Now as an author I struggle, I want to read but I should be writing. I have attempted to discipline myself that day time is for writing, night-time is for reading. It works most of the time but not always. When you admit you are a bookaholic, to which I confess I am, you do the best you can. If I get caught up in my writing then I may forgo reading or if the story I am reading is not leaving my head until I finish it then I must give in and finish the book.
Stephen King says “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have time (or the tools) to write.” That was wonderful news for me to remove the guilt of reading instead of working!
I saw a post recently regarding readers living longer. It piqued my curiosity so I went in search of the source and read the full article. Good news all my fellow bookaholic friends, you will live on average twenty-three months longer than the non-reader! The article is in Social Science & Medicine’s September issue, “A Chapter A Day: Association of Book Reading with Longevity.” You can find the article at sciencedirect.com .
So go ahead and indulge, get comfortable in your favorite chair and read.
