I pondered this question today while I was enjoying a walk through the snow ( which was dumped on us by surprise last night..), why do we read? Why are some people call book nerds, and are called passionate readers? Yes, we have to read, we are taught to read in order to survive, grow, learn and live. But what does one that read for pleasure look for?? Do people really just love to read? Or when reading....are we searching for something?
I for one, read everything...I mean everything - from new papers, flyer's, magazines, novels, history books, religion books, health books, mind,body and spirit books..on-line, hard covers, mass markets, newsprint...even the emails that float around my office about stats, I read them.
Sometimes I am drawn to a book, don't know why...but I will pick it up a million times and put it down and then pick it up again...I figured that I am not ready for what is in between those pages. Like the saying goes, when the student is ready, the teacher will come. Have you ever felt that way? Do you only read what is in the news or the next diet or health book? Or are you reading something in hopes that it will bring forth something inside you that you didn't ( or forgot) you had in you? When I read, I search...I search for things to touch my heart, things that will make me look at the world with different eyes, a sentence, or word or chapter...that will stick with me for the rest of my life and that I will never forget. I have many books, too many to count..but all of them have folded corners, pages marked, and are most loved. One of my all time favorite author is Paulo Coelho, just before he starts his books on the second page he always writes ...." Hail Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who turn to Thee for help. Amen", just before the first chapter starts, he quotes the bible. His books are short, but pack a very powerful punch. When I read his books, I find myself lost in the story, and crying no matter the ending...because his writing touches me...touches something deep down inside that I forgot was there..inspires me to lift myself to a better place...be all that I dreamed of being, because I can.
I could go on forever, alas...it would be a very long post. I found this quote awhile back in something that I was reading ( forgive me, I can't recall in which book..but it stuck with me).
" ....when you read a book, you leave a piece of yourself with it, and that is a treasure for someone else to find...their thoughts, their feelings, their state of mind ....so when you read, read with passion, love and joy...because you never know who will pick up the book after you..."
xoxo
BT&HB
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