My Month of Reading!
Brief: This post is an overview of my month reading daily. I have listed the top 3 things I enjoyed about my literature filled month!
This month was filled with relaxation and probably the best sleep I have ever gotten. Reading daily is something that I haven’t done since my 1st big trip abroad where I was surrounded by people who loved reading so naturally, I picked up a book myself. That was 5 years ago. A couple good friends of mine are huge advocates of getting a “mental sweat” with a good book or research article so I took their word for it and dove in head 1st. I must say I really enjoyed it and having a book on the go keeps me away from my devices while laying in bed which, for someone as attached as I am, is a very good thing. Below are my 3 favourite things about consistent reading.
Number 1 – Let Someone Else Take The Wheel
The title of this might be a little confusing but I will do my best to explain. We are all so in our own heads and immersed in our own thoughts all day, everyday. Reading allows someone else’s story or ideas to fill your brain. It’s relaxing to let the words on the page take over and steer you in whatever direction the author wants. It reminded me of a long road trip I went on with a friend a few years ago. There is a stress involved in driving long distances, it might not be sweaty palms and panic attacks, but it’s there. There’s a constant sense of responsibility and a pressure to remain aware of your surroundings at all times. That’s the part I compare to our everyday life. We’re in control 24/7, all the decisions are ours and nobody else’s. Reading is like pulling over and trading drivers. All you now have to do is sit there and relax. Let someone else take control. Those minor stresses about responsibility, decision making, awareness….they all vanish. You’re no longer steering the ship, now your only job is to sit back and absorb whatever it is you’re reading, enjoy.
Number 2 – Different Perspectives Help Us Learn
Life is all about perspective. For example, the sinking of the Titanic was a horrible tragedy and will forever be a sad day in the history of mankind. HOWEVER! For the lobsters on display in the dining hall, it was god damn miracle! See often times we are limited to our own point of view and perspective. When we see the world through someone else’s glasses, that can change everything. Books are a great way to gain perspective. Whether or not you agree with what is said within those pages is ultimately irrelevant. Throughout the process of reading you will either learn something new about the world or about yourself. Either way, we learn.
Number 3 – Stay Sharp & Sleep Deep
The sharpest knives in the drawer are always going to be the ones you sharpen most frequently. See we all start out with similar brains but yet, as we age, some of them melt away and some stay sharp as a tack. Why is that you ask? It’s pretty simple actually. Steve Carell said it best in the movie “40 year old virgin” when he asked….”is it true that, if you don’t use it you will lose it?”. Now Steve was referencing something very different but, fortunately for us, that rule applies to our brains. Neuroplasticity is the real thing and getting a “mental sweat” like my good friends call it is actually a real thing! The brain can evolve and change if you train it but if you don’t, those neurons in there don’t fire like they used to and well….we lose it. Ever wonder why you can’t win the TV game show “Are you smarter than a 5th grader?”. It’s pretty simple, you haven’t done long division in 20 years and they did it 100 times yesterday. When we stop training our brain, it stops getting stronger. Reading helps you stay sharp and will constantly be teaching you new things that will keep your brain active and healthy. Another thing that we all need to remain healthy is sleep and there is nothing scientific about this point. Reading just helps me fall asleep and that gets a big thumbs up from me!
Keeping a book on the go is going to be a part of my life moving forward. I want to learn, I want to grow, I want to stay sharp throughout my life and I definitely want a good sleep. Keep chasing your cloud!
