Be A Reader!
Last week I wrote that we can’t live our best lives without reading/listening to books. Reading non-fiction allows us to learn new things. The author is taking all of their years of experience and packaging it up for us. We get to learn what they have discovered and learn from their mistakes. Think of all the time that saves the reader! Yet, when we read, we don’t want to just consume. We need to put what we have read into action. A great way to do this is to write down a takeaway from the book , or even each chapter, and make a list of how we can implement the ideas into our lives. Otherwise, we can get ourselves into a cycle of just consuming and never creating. As an aside, if a book is just not resonating with you….you don’t need to finish it! Pass it on to a friend or donate it.
Reading fiction can take us away to places, real or imagined, that we have never been. This can reduce stress and just be enjoyable. Aside from adding joy to our live reading has many benefits.
The National Library of Medicine published a 12-year study that showed people who read 30 minutes a day live two years longer than those who do not read. Studies have also shown that people who read are 2.5 times less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. That is a pretty awesome prescription. Read 30 minutes a day and you are more likely to live longer and retain your mental abilities!
Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. Research shows that reading stimulates a complex network of circuits in the brain. As you improve your reading ability these networks become stronger and more sophisticated.
According to Science Magazine reading can make you more empathetic. Being empathetic means being able to understand and share the feelings of others. Fiction has the power to help readers understand what others are thinking by reading people’s emotions.
Books are no doubt a huge source of motivation. We can derive great inspiration from them and transform our lives positively. Reading trains our brains to focus our attention and live in the present. It improves our vocabulary, language command, and communication skills. Reading broadens our imagination and enhances creativity.
All of the benefits of reading are great. To me, they are the cherry on top. To me, reading gives me great joy. I love to learn new things, travel to new places, and meet interesting people …all from the comfort of my sofa. Stephen King says that books are uniquely portable magic and I wholeheartedly agree!
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