I can remember those awkward early adolescent days when reading began to become something nerdy to do. Something that only losers who have no one to play with do to occupy their extensive free time. Reading became a chore, as books became textbooks and strictly nonfiction facts. No one wanted to be the person who was reading at the lunch table or between classes or after tests. Books shifted to being something of the past, or something to only be done when you are truly that bored. Avid readers in their childhood began to stray away from their favorite pastime to participate in more social activities. By the end of adolescence, people often made excuses on why they didn’t read. It had a negative connotation and wasn’t a part of most people’s lives. I’m here to say that being a reader can and should be an amazing attribute in people.

The person that reads is knowledgeable and dedicated and comfortable with oneself. They are independent enough to spend hours away from other humans engrossed in a good story. They have a thirst for learning and adventure and desire to be exposed to as many cultures as possible. They are easy to relate to, as they have read and experienced so many situations through their reading. Readers have a sense of perspective and understanding about the world around them and can focus on the positive aspects of their lives because of this. They are thinking constantly and critically, allowing their minds to be creative and free-flowing while also being able to provide structure in the decision making process. A reader does not need much, as a few hundred pages can be the entertainment for an evening. These people are essential to society and to culture and they can provide light and creativity within dark times.

I encourage you to be this person. Be the reader. Be that person who others can aspire to be like. Make the time to read each day and spend those moments challenging your mind to think in broader terms. Enter into a new world within a book. Spend a day engrossing yourself into someone else’s culture. Daydream about the future or the past through some fantasy novels. Laugh, cry, and feel the pain and triumphs the characters endure. Change the way that you think about the world and about reading. Embrace the life of a reader; I’ve heard it’s a pretty great one.