Why you need to read a book !

When I was growing up, my mom saw to it that there was time set apart for us, children, to read. We went to the library on Saturday mornings and we were free to choose anything we liked. That habit of reading has served me well over the years.

Within the many volumes of books are biographies, fiction and non fiction accounts and for every individual there is a discussion that would interest him/her in some book. Some people like those large volumes while some prefer a quick read while travelling or in time off at home.

The act of reading is calming and centering. You leave the outside world and focus on your special interest for several minutes. You read, you think, you react and you learn something new, new words, new expressions. On bookshelves are heart-felt summaries of people's lives, wars, political matters, stories of love, hate and all the brilliant discoveries that have been made. In a world of electronics and noise and lots of distractions, it is good to pause, and spend some time with just you and your book.

I came to love books when some years ago, my life was in turmoil and with all the help I was getting the darkness seemed like it would be forever. I walked into a bookstore and picked up 2 books, and that was the beginning of the end. I then realised that the answers that most of us are looking for are explained in books and the act of reading, taking time out, extracting what we need, chapter by chapter, the unfolding truth can awaken us to the life we are looking for.

When was the last time you read a book ?