Reading is FUNdamental for Big Kids, Too

Remember those posters in your elementary school classroom with catchy sayings like:

Reading is FUNdamental*Get hooked on a book*Read to succeed

As corny as they may sound to us now, their messages are still true. Reading is not just for little kids, it’s for us big kids, too.  Even though we recently spent years poring over pages and pages of required reading for school, doesn’t mean we can’t read for pleasure.  In fact, I think it means just the opposite.  In case you hadn’t guessed, I love reading. Even when I was in school, I would still take time every night to read a book I enjoyed. If you’re not convinced yet, let me tell you some of the benefits of reading for grownups:

• It’s a healthy way to escape, that costs far less than a beach vacation, and doesn’t damage our minds or bodies.
• Reading lets you travel to different times and places, and learn about things you’ll never be able to experience yourself.
• The best books draw you in and make you feel like you’re part of the story. You can’t put them down, and yet you don’t want them to end.
• Reading keeps your imagination alive, expands your vocabulary, and teaches you things you never knew.
• A good book provides a welcome distraction from a long commute, or a relaxing end to a hectic day.
• Thanks to the existence of libraries and the invention of the online card catalog, finding the book you want is quick, easy and free.
• Unless you’re reading a very rare or out of print book, chances are that someone else is reading it too. Even though reading is often a solitary activity, people love to talk about the books they’ve read. Joining or starting a book group is a great way to meet people.

Do you think reading is a worthwhile activity? Why or why not? What are your favorite books and why did they resonate with you? You can check out some of my favorites here.

Tagged as: Advice, Gen Y, happiness, Learning, Meaning