Keep Reading!
It amazes me that whenever I am reading some random-choice book, there is a line or character that speaks volumes. As if almost magical, some dialogue or action answers some question I have buried deep inside. That is the beauty of reading whether a print copy or an ebook. It also does not matter which genre it is, but the universality of life experiences is always there.
Every book is a teacher, regardless of the simplicity of the plot. The characters are still in the throes of everyday life and somehow, someway, I often relate to some situation that I have either had or seen while traveling down the road of life. Each book adds a tick mark on my ladder of spiritual growth. In a silent way, reading has put me way down the path of understanding. It is something that can not be verbally explained to others. It is just so.
In these tumultuous times and with the heightened use of social media, reading is my way of shutting down the loud, visceral voices and regaining my inner peace. It calmly puts me into a zone that is impenetrable while a good book helps me to disengage from the noise and the maddening crowd.
Summer reading is just as important to adults as it is to children. It allows us to “keep our heads when everyone else is losing theirs and blaming it on you.” (Kipling). I can tune out to the junk in the universe and tune in to another place, space and time.
Everytime, I finish reading a book, I leave with a new perspective and sometimes with the answer to a private question. I breathe deeply after gaining new insight and say to myself, “I know just what to do.” Rather than being caught up in the mix of others’ stuff, it is best to go alone and read a book.
Reading is a quiet, singular experience and most people respect the privacy of those connected and engaged in a book. Granted, some books are harder to get through than others. But sometimes, when I make myself stay with the more difficult text, invariably, there is some life lesson tucked deep inside. Voila!
Charles W. Eliot wrote,“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.” Try picking up a good book or some reading material and see the peace that saturates your being!
Lynn M.
July 5, 2025
