5 reasons why reading is good for you

-

 Many people poo-poo reading as a waste of time, or even worse, bad for you for introducing bad ideas into your head. Hello, Gaston! Here are five reasons why reading is good for you!


#1--Reading makes you smarter. Whether you're reading non-fiction or fiction, you are learning new things--vocabulary or even how things work. My husband learned so much about the West while reading Louis L'amour books when he was a kid.

#2--Reading makes you empathic and compassionate. When you read, you are walking a mile in someone else's shoes for a while. You learn that every one has reasons for their actions. You can experience another person's life, all from the safety of your own room.

#3--Reading helps you to understand the world better. I read to see the world in a different light. I gain perspective and knowledge. It gives me context for certain behaviors. It introduces me to other cultures.

#4--Reading gives you good hormones. The endorphins you get when you accomplish a really hard task can also be achieved by reading about someone who is equally going through something hard and overcoming it in a book. Dopamine rushes aren't just for bungee jumpers, it's also for readers who overthrow evil overlords or charm the demon lord to fall in love.

#5--Escapism. Sometimes it's nice to be able to leave this crazy, chaotic world behind and jump into a time and place where the problems are different and solvable. It's wonderful to go through the journey and victory of succeeding at something, even if it's only fictional. Reading is recess for the brain and we need to play, even if it's in our minds. It's part of good mental health hygiene. Even if you're not a reader, or struggle to sit down to read a book, see my post on YouTube channels with audiobooks for FREE!


Why do you like reading?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Top Ten Tips for Fighting Discouragement

-
I asked my most ardent fans (my daughter and my husband) what I should write about on my blog and my daughter said I should write about encouraging others to keep writing. I feel like I've learned a lot in writing for the past ten years, and I'd love to share. Writing, and almost any other creative endeavor is a long process. From the spiritual creation or idea of it until its execution and finished product can take months if not years. Keeping going during that time can become a challenge. Here are my tips to stay motivated. 1. Remember why you started in the first place. I am a storyteller. I always have been. I'm horrid at asking questions but learning. But I think of funny scenarios. I'm the dreamer. Someone tells me a detail and I create a story. I don't write for the royalty check. I don't write to be famous-- although that would be nice. I write because I believe fiction can heal. I write because I believe we all need to safely escape. I write becaus...
Read more

Spring Break Bookaplaooza book feature

-
Image
Need a book to read this spring? Are you having a book slump? Need to find a new author to enjoy? Looking for sassy heroines, alpha males, tissue romances, or a feel-good, funny read? Well, I have just the thing for you! Enter the Spring Break Bookapalooza. Be sure to click on this link to check it out. My romantic suspense book Baker's Dozen is being featured today! I talk about my dream spring break (hint: it's in France) and what I love about spring. And while you are there, check out many of the other authors featured on the site. You may find something that catches your eye. Leave a comment to interact with the authors and let them know what you think about their cover, their except or their dream spring break. Many of these authors are also published under my publisher, The Wild Rose Press. PLUS you can enter to win one of many Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift cards with this link to the rafflecopter contest. You can earn bonus entries by following participating aut...
Read more

At what point do you call yourself a writer?

-
When I was nine years old, I took a piece of blue construction paper and stapled it around some blank computer paper. I titled the book, Young Author. I didn't know what I was going to write in there, but I knew it was going to be good! I wanted to write mysteries. I read a whole lot of Nancy Drew at the time, everything in the local library and bought a few dozen more with my own money. (My daughter has them on her bookshelf as I write this--no way was I getting rid of those.) I attended a few workshops, dreamed, scribbled in notebooks, started a dozen stories, wrote a play (in fourth grade) and a scene I took to drama competition, took some Creative Writing classes in college. But it wasn't until nine years ago that I decided I was going to do it. I had read a book that contradicted the thought that I had to be wildly talented to get published (a popular belief that I held or held me back), I only had to work hard, gain experience, and learn skills. In roughly ten years, ...
Read more