From the day I learned I could, I did.
I could embark on countless adventures, traverse across the continents, and even shuttle through hyperspace and into a galaxy far, far away without ever having to leave the comfort of my own bed.
I have been able to live a thousand lives and travel a thousand miles.
I have thrown up my hands in excitement when Harry Potter overcame the odds against him, and I have stifled tears when a beloved character died.
Happiness and solace, pleasure and contentment have been afforded me through pages of words, through books.
Whether indulging in the pleasures of a well-written piece of literature or investing in the joys of spending time in Scripture, reading changes a person.
If we allow them to, books can challenge and develop us not only as intellectuals but as human beings. Stories broaden the scope of our lives and have the potential to help us see things that we were blind to before.
I know that reading lost its luster in the 12-plus years of schooling we have had to endure. When we were forced to read "literature" that was contrary to what we liked or that had been beaten over our heads so much that we completely shut ourselves off from it.
Some won't even open a book because reading has been ruined for them. Or simply because they never enjoyed reading to begin with.
Whatever the case may be, reading is a gift and one that we too often take for granted.
We read every day. In fact, even those of you who aren't students read a menu at the drive-thru during lunch. Others read the lengthy email sent to them from their bosses.
Without reading, where would we be?
The beauty of reading books is that you have complete power to choose what you fill your mind with and what you don't ever wish to pick up again.
If you hated "Hamlet" in high school or cringe at the mention of the year 1984, know that you have the ability to pave your own path.
You can escape to the Shire one day and then fight in the Hunger Games the next. Venture to Hogwarts on Tuesday and hop a train to Narnia on Friday.
The choice is all yours.
Adventure waits at your fingertips, calling out to you. But in order to go, you must do.
Uncurl your fist and flip through pages. Camp out in Barnes and Noble and sift through the myriad different worlds awaiting your mind.
Not all reading is fun (hint: textbooks), but not all reading is boring, either.
Reading can provide both enjoyment and education, but like anything, reading will only impact you as much as you let it.
Whether it's a well-worn text from your younger years with dog-eared pages or an unscathed text straight from the shelves, go find your own adventure and get lost.
