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Romancing Writing And The Love For Reading

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

Some people don't like to read and undermine the work of writers. I don't blame them, but I also don't have to agree with them. To me, everything...quite literally EVERYTHING starts from putting thoughts down on paper. It's only by visualizing and then penning something down that you see the bigger picture. Things move forward faster and easier from there. 

Everything from videos and sometimes even comic strips starts from words being put down on paper. 

I can't say that life as a writer has always been easy. Sure, it gets easier now because I've been writing for a long time and have had my fair share of both compliments and criticisms. 

The thing is this - I wish people these days read more. I know we're living in an age of the internet. Times have changed. People no longer spend time reading a manual or a friend's letter sent through the post office. People no longer appreciate books and magazines the way we did. 

And it's bloody sad. 

In advertising, I've heard a lot of complaints about things being 'Wordy' and it is justified because we're talking about short attention span and fleeting concentration levels. 

But in real life, at the very least, we should all have some time spent with nothing more than just a book in our hands. Yes, not even an eBook or AudioBook or Podcast or whatever. Just a friggin' simple book. 

I've moved around a bit these couple of years. It's troublesome and silly, but I refuse to let go of some of my most prized possessions...my books. 

Spending time reading is also extremely relaxing, as opposed to watching a Netflix series. The faster you flick through the channels, the more drained you will feel. Try it if you will, humor me...but just grab a book and spend a half-hour or an hour just reading it. 

I promise you that you will find time slowly filling up. Like you're sitting in an empty room and there's an imaginary ray of light filling it up with all shades of colors. And when I am done reading, I often feel so much more relaxed. Like I filled time doing something useful, not scrolling through Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok...which I still do but I try not to when I can help it. 

When I am on social media or watching Netflix, I end up feeling anxious because I've just wasted precious time doing something I know I probably shouldn't have. There are really better ways to spend my precious hours than bothering myself with what everyone else is doing in their lives.

It depletes the inner reserve of joy. 

Whereas, when it comes to reading, it replenishes the reservoir.  

I guess I am writing this as an excuse after randomly surfing through book-buying sites and finding myself with more books to read this month than I had originally anticipated. LOL. 

Regret? Not really....

via GIPHY

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