Everyone has something that they are passionate about and love to do on a daily basis. Mine, personally, is reading. I have loved to read ever since I became literate. Like a majority of children, I started off reading of the abundance Dr. Seuss' wonderful and brilliant books. I enjoyed reading his made up words, following the story line, and observing all of his wacky illustrations that filled every nook and cranny of each page.

Then I moved on to Junie B. Jones and the Magic Treehouse series. Both of these series captured so many hours of my childhood sitting curled up in a chair or laying outside on the hammock. I loved letting my imagination run free. Reading all of the different stories sparked my own imagination and I would sometimes pretend like I was a character in the book and I would act out their adventure with my friends. As a got a little older, I really got into the Harry Potter series. To date, I have read the series nine times total. The books from my childhood still stick with me today and mean the world to me and the read that I have become.

Today, however, I am most thankful for my love of books and reading. In the summer, it would be a rare occasion to catch me without a book in my hand or nearby. I always try to find time to read during the day in the summer, especially outside. It's so peaceful to sit down and read a book while listening to the sounds of nature. It is my definition of pure bliss. During the school year, I find it harder to read for pleasure due to the insane amounts of homework, assignments, assigned readings, and projects. It's not a secret that I am always excited for the school year or semester to end so that I can get a book in my hands pronto.

Books distract me from my life and all of the problems or concerns that I have. Once I open a book, I block out the rest of the world and I am completely immersed in the story of my book. I have a guilty pleasure for romance novels so I inevitably enjoy Nicholas Sparks and all of his mushy gushy love stories that I wish I could experience. I also get insane satisfaction from reading murder mysteries/suspense stories. Some of my favorite authors from this genre are Gillian Flynn and Paula Hawkins. The stories that they think of completely capture my interest and I get so involved in the book. It isn't uncommon for me to finish one of these types of books in a day or two. When I say I love reading these types of books, I really mean it.

I'm so thankful that I love reading and have the desire to read as much as I can. It is my safe haven and has definitely lowered my anxiousness and helped me get through some pretty rough times in my life. I'm so excited to grow my library and eventually have a designated library/study room in my house one day. That is where you will find me most days.