This blog post might be a bit different than the straightforward and empowering articles I write. However, I think reading - what some consider a mundane task - is extremely underrated and should be considered an empowering experience.
Many of us can relate when I say we used to read heavily as children ranging from the classics like Harry Potter to Magic Treehouse. So, why have we stopped as we’ve gotten older? It seems that as we grow, we have more tasks that feel more like a priority, so we slowly reduce our reading time until we don’t read at all anymore. I myself have fallen victim to not picking up a book for quite some time. However, my goal for 2022 was to start reading more, and I did. I read fictional books of different genres: romance, thriller, fantasy, etc. I found what kind of books I enjoy and slowly started to get back into the groove of reading. My goal for 2023 was to dive deep into non-fiction books; this includes books that would teach me about time management and discipline, for instance, as well as books that talked about women empowerment and intersectional feminism. I started to really enjoy reading books about how our society functions from studying intersectionality and how our identities overlap in society.
After finding the books that I genuinely enjoy, I noticed a significant shift in my ability to articulate my thoughts more clearly and with poise. I have expanded my vocabulary and my reading comprehension skills have significantly strengthened. Reading has brought me serenity, but also simple pleasure. So, I encourage everyone to start reading again if you feel like you have drifted off. As someone who loves to watch TV shows and movies because I am a creative person who enjoys everything in the entertainment industry, books felt out of date and irrelevant. However, I could not have been more mistaken. Coming back to the habit of reading has benefited me and brought me the same joys watching movies has done. Reading improves focus, memory, communication skills, and can even reduce stress. While there can be harm in consuming too much media from the screens, there is no harm in reading. You might find something you are passionate about through reading - for me I strengthened my passion for intersectional feminism and studying soceity. I challenge you to start reading 10 pages of a book each day and check back in here to keep track of your progress; I will be reading alongside with you all!
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