For those who know me, you know my obsession with books and reading. I could sit an entire day and finish quite a few books. I have many people ask me how on earth I could do such a thing as sit and read and, in their words, "waste and an entire day of your life". Well, let me explain.

To the normal person, a book is just a bunch of pages with words on them bounded together. It is just another story they have to read or chore they have to do. They skim the pages in hopes of coming to the end faster and getting it over with.

To me, it is much, much different.

A book is a story, yes, but the difference here is it is a story that can change your perspective. It can make you think about things you have never thought of before. It can make you feel things you have never felt before. It is a story that can stick with you for the rest of your life.

Every book is different. There is a different author, story, characters, and plot. No two books will lead to the same ending. Books create another world to escape to.

When life is becoming too much, grab a book. Sit down and really read the words. Visualize what is happening and connect with the characters within in it. I can guarantee that whatever was bothering you or overwhelming you before will melt away and you will have your moment to escape.

A good book brings empathy. It is hard at times to see things from another's perspective. It is hard to grasp what someone else is feeling in a situation. A good book helps you do just that.

If you are an avid reader, chances are you will come across many different types of characters from different backgrounds and personalities and lives. I know I have.

Even if a book is fiction, there is always a lesson - a lesson that can pertain to anyone's life.

A book's characters and stories can make you see a situation through a new lens and with that, brings a person empathy. You feel for that character and you cry, laugh, and yell with the character during his or her journey.

Every book has a moral lesson in the end. No matter how far-fetched the plot or story is, there will be a lesson to take away from the book. Books are intended to entertain, but also teach lessons. They capture the minds of people. They bring us into their stories and when it is all over leave us with something that can be applied to our own lives.

A book isn't just a book. It is a lesson and a story that can go with you wherever life takes you.