So many people look to reading as a chore; something we have to do against our will. While growing up, there were plenty of times I thought to myself how much I did NOT want to read the book my literature teacher was forcing me read. What I didn't know is at the time, I was learning how to be a better reader and expand my knowledge (instead of my theory that my teacher REALLY disliked my class and made us read that boring classical novel). Reading is like a chore, we are forced to do them when we really would like to be doing something else. But unlike a chore, reading can keep benefiting us for the rest of our lives.
I have been that girl too many times who refused to read anything but a romance novel. There is just something about two people falling in love that I love to read about. However, reading a couple different genres this semester got me thinking about the importance of getting out of the comfort zone in reading. When I got the assignment to read a historical fiction novel, my mind went back to thinking how much reading felt like a chore to me. I just was not about to read a historical fiction novel. I began to read and as I was reading, I found myself actually ENJOYING it.
My biggest piece of advice to anyone is to pick up a book you normally wouldn't. You might be an avid reader, a person who HATES reading, or a person who doesn't know how to feel about reading. There is a book out there for everyone. I promise. Research research research; find what you love. I can almost guarantee there is a book for you. I knew how much I love the Boleyn Era so when I had to pick a historical fiction novel, I knew exactly where to find a book on that time period. My mind was able to expand and I was out of my comfort zone, while gaining more knowledge about that time period.
Reading is enjoyable; there is a book out there for you. Find a comfy place to sit, put on your sweatpants, make some coffee, and kick-back and enjoy a whole new reading experience; I promise it will be a lot more fun than that chore you keep putting off.
