Tuesday, February 18, 2014

My Top 10 Reasons I Love Being a Reader


It really wasn't that long ago that I became a reader.  Sure, I did the required reading in grade school and (very) occasionally picked up a book or two in my early 20s, but it wasn't until about five years ago that I truly referred to myself as "a reader".

There are so many, MANY, reasons why I love to label myself as such now.  It's hard to just narrow it down to 10.  Being a reader has opened so many doors for me, both personally and professionally.  A list can never represent how grateful I am for that. Be sure to check out The Broke and the Bookish for more details on this awesome weekly feature.


I love being a reader because... It allows my mind to wander to another life, another time, another adventure.  When I try to describe what reading is like to non-readers, the easiest explanation I can give is that it's like watching a movie for me.  For a short period of time I can be transfixed to another place and visualize the story as it unfolds.


I love being a reader because... I can share my thoughts on what I read with other book lovers.  I started this blog because I was in need of a community to discuss these wonderful (and not so wonderful, sometimes) books that were taking up space in my life.  There's nothing better than dissecting a book with someone else who has also read it.


I love being a reader because... I get to recommend books to people, both readers and non-readers.  I love it when my family members ask me for book recommendations, especially when I know reading is not their first choice of pleasure.  It gives me great pride to look back in my own personal library and really think about what that particular person would enjoy.


I love being a reader because... It's the fuel to my passion in becoming a teacher.  A few years ago, just as reading became a huge enjoyment for me, I made the decision to go back to school to become a teacher.  I knew I wanted to get other kids excited about reading, if not, then at least to put a book in their hands for the first time.  I owe this decision all to reading.  Without it, I don't know if I'd ever venture down this wonderful path I've found myself on.


I love being a reader because... It's COOL!  I don't care what anyone else says, reading is awesome.  I wish I had learned this a long time ago and picked up reading when I was younger.  Hey, at least I'm doing the cool thing now, right?


I love being a reader because... Books make a home beautiful and cozy.  I love to decorate, but its my book collections that are my most favorite decorative pieces.  Plus, they're very functional too!  Having a full bookshelf creates a sense of fullness in my home that I crave (especially since it's just me & Daisy).  I love my books, and the places they create in my home.


I love being a reader because... It's allowed me to see stories from a different perspective, and appreciate the diversity of this world we live in.  Books have a way of challenging us and opening our eyes to things we may not have seen before.  It's easy to get lost in our own bubbles, so I am thankful for reading because it allows me to venture outside my comfort zone every once in awhile.


I love being a reader because... My vocabulary has increased!  Studies have proven that the more you read, the larger your vocabulary will expand.  This is definitely true, for any age.  I still find myself bookmarking a word while I read to look up later and understand its origin.  I love that.


I love being a reader because... It's allowed me to connect with other people, through a common bond.  Walking into a bookstore or library full of strangers is quite normal, but when someone walks up to you & starts a conversation based on the book you're holding, it's pretty dang awesome and you find yourself instantly connected to them.


I love being a reader because... It brought me here!  Because of reading, I started this blog.  And because of this blog I have met some of my closest and most dearest friends.  Reading has become a domino effect for a lot in my life, allowing one thing to happen after another.  The friendships I've made because of this community is definitely high on my list of most rewarding experiences.  You matter to me, so very much, xo.

10 comments:

  1. Great list! I love it when I can get my non-reader friends to read. And for some reason, when people find out you're an avid reader they think your smart. LoL

    Nette
    My TTT

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  2. This is an aewsome list! I really loved this week's prompt because it just seemed like a perfect opprotunity to talk about why we all love books and why we blog. I joined the blogging community for the same reasons you did- there really is nothing like sharing your love of books and talking about them with others who read. I think that books are also really beautiful decorations, and it's one of my dreams to have a nice little library of my own. Not that I'd complain if I could have the one from Beauty and the Beast of course... But in all seriousness, this is a really lovely post. Thank you for sharing this and how books have impacted your life as well! I know what you mean, an amazing book can read like the most epic and wonderful movie imaginable.

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  3. I love that you didn't "find" reading until you were an adult, but it's made you do all these cool things like start a blog and go back to school. I think that's so interesting. One of my good friends, who's a children's book editor, hated reading as a child and I feel like your story and her story are very similar.

    Also, the vocabulary thing is so true. But, embarrassingly, because there are so many words I learned from reading as a child there are certain words I tend to pronounce incorrectly because I always came across them in writing rather than hearing them so I pronounced them my own special way lol.

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  4. I love all these reasons! I am so excited for you to be a teacher and share that passion with kiddos! oxoxo

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  5. This is such a great list, G! Sometimes I read a book and I think to myself (in a non-creepy way, I promise) that I hope you have it in your classroom one day because I know it is important to you that your students really enjoy reading.

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  6. Could not agree more with your list!! Who would have thought that books would bring us together what...three-ish years ago? For that I will be forever thankful xoxo

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  7. Great picks :) I agree with all of your points. I really wish I lived in a bigger flat, then I could have all my books on display. So far I only have two book cases and twenty storage boxes filled with most of my books - they need to be on display for everyone to see! My TTT

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  8. These are a lot like my reasons for reading. My main reason for reading is to escape. For a few minutes I can just escape into the words the author has created. I can forget about all the homework I have to do and the stress life causes. I can just get lost with the characters and the world. That is why I continue to read because it has been such a great outlet for me.

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  9. Yes, yes, yes about reading helping you understand what it's like to be someone else. I think that is the best thing about reading. It makes us better people, being able to unstained where they are coming from.

    Oh, and DEFINITELY reading is COOL!

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  10. Great points about reading increasing your vocabulary and allowing you to decorate your home with books. Congratulations on becoming a teacher.

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