The Joy of Reading

As I was sitting in the library, it suddenly occurred to me that I’m a writer who has never written about reading, one of my favorite pastimes. Every day I encourage my parents and students to read. Parents because they are role models of good habits, as well as reading allows them to share precious moments with their children. Students because reading is such a critical element to their education and their future lives. There is something to read everywhere you look: signs, directions, ingredients, instructions, and media content. Reading is needed to do math, art, music, and acting. Reading is a dynamic life-long skill. It not only opens up new worlds of knowledge and depths of meaning, but it also engages several regions of the brain to strengthen our cognitive processes. This may not seem important to you now, but it will be when you grow older and become more aware of forgetfulness and dementia. We’ll save this science discussion for another day. (Click this article if you want to learn more: Why is Reading important? by the 95Percent Group) Today I just want to talk about the joy of reading.

My husband and I took a short relaxation trip this past week. I brought along two novels, and he had his audio books on his phone. I still enjoy holding an actual book in my hands and doing the reading myself, while my husband enjoys being read to by a good storyteller. I’ve never discussed this with him, but it occurs to me that many people can benefit from audio book services, especially if reading has been a hard chore for them. In fact, I have a cousin who complains that reading is hard for him and during his childhood reading was a source of punishment and ridicule because of his he struggles with it. That breaks my heart on so many levels. (Never, never use reading as a punishment or make fun of people who have a hard time reading fluently.) As a teacher, I want my students to enjoy reading so I let them know we all learn to read at different times and on different levels. I am also an avid supporter of phonics in the early stages of literacy.

Unlike my cousin, I grew up loving to read. Mom taught me to read before I started school. The primer Dick and Jane and Little Golden Books were all over our house. Mom read to me and allowed me to read to her. We read the same stories over and over because I loved them so much. We took many trips to the public library, and I loved the fact that I could choose my own books. After I started school, I read more and more. Eventually children’s books were not enough for me, I started reading my mom’s True Confession magazines and sneaking into the Teen Section of the library. To this day, I still remember reading Sue Barton Student Nurse and all the books that followed in that series. I even decided I wanted to be a nurse based on those reading adventures. (I hate needles and blood so that didn’t work out. lol)

The joy of reading for me is adventure. I get to see and know about places, people and things that I may never have the opportunity to experience in my life. Vicariously, I can live in the mountains, paddle down a river, play with magic, and use my paranormal gifts to heal my community. Books elicit the experience of emotions across the gambit of sadness, grief, fear, excitement, disgust, surprise, happiness, love, amusement, empathy, and anger. Books allow me to explore theories and experiment with disciplines through the work and knowledge of experts in every field. Sometimes I feel like I’m right there in the setting with the characters regardless of genre. I love to read memoirs and literary novels. I love historical fiction and criminal suspense. I also love books on spiritual growth and theology along with books about birds and creative recipes. Adventure, knowledge and access to experiences beyond the borders of my life is why I love to read.

Books can expand your world. All you have to do is find your niche. Even if reading is a struggle for you, you can enjoy the experiences of reading through audio books like my husband. Your brain will be just as engaged as reading the words form the page. Your imagination will activate all of your senses to see, smell, taste, and touch all the experiences the authors convey. Your memory will conjure up similar circumstances or conversations that have been tuck away in the recesses of you mind for a long time. Your heart and soul will consider plans for an adventure of your own by taking classes, or a trip, or a special outing with your significant someone. You may look at strangers differently. You may try new recipes or exercises. You may collect new collectibles or sing new songs. You may actively engage in transactions of friendship or business even if it’s just in a daydream. You may escape the rat race for a few hours of peace and tranquility found in a good book. It’s really up to you, but I truly believe you can find enjoyment in reading or listening to a book.

If you have children, help them to experience the joy of reading as early as you can. Start with the things you love to do together and branch off into the things that interest them the most. Let them catch you enjoying a book and use it as a springboard to start discussions about subjects that are important to you and to them. Point out words in the environment such as tags, signs, labels, and brand names. Tell them the hard words don’t make them struggle unnecessarily. If there are no children in your life, challenge yourself to begin reading more widely. Try a genre you’ve never read before. Try a fully dramatized audio book. Return to a childhood favorite or try a book that has been turned into a movie, see if Hollywood stuck to the script. Read some autobiographies or some memoirs about people lives that fascinate you. Try some “How-to” books; create a new hobby or skill in your life. You are never too old to learn something new.

No matter where you live, no matter who you are, you can discover the joy of reading, and you can pique the interest of others to read. So let me end by thanking you for taking the time to read my books and my blogs. Every author needs a reader, and I’m blessed and thankful to have each of you in my literary world.

I love for you to share some books from your list with me. I’m always in the market for a good read.

Good Reading and Peace.