There was a time when I was an extremely enthusiastic
reader. I would read anything and everything; from books and newspapers to even
pamphlets and cutouts of papers used by roadside stalls to pack and serve food.
I developed the habit of reading while obtaining my BMM degree. I distinctly
remember our professors advising us to cultivate the habit not just to widen
one’s knowledge and perspective but to find new stories around. It was around
this time that I started reading and began my slow descent into a world of
magic.
There is something about words. They can either drown you or
uplift you, then appease you and give you hope. Words can betray and words can
heal. And if a couple of words hold this amount of power, imagine what a book
can do. Books take you to places you cannot physically go; into fairylands and
zombie worlds, into the past and the future. A book is a treasure house, not
only of information but stories and experiences. They are like angels that hold
your hand and take you to a world you never knew you wanted to be in.
Since I was an avid reader back then, I would write guest
posts and book reviews for a friend’s blog. With time, however, I lost touch
with reading. Work and life consumed me, and as OTT platforms came into being,
I got distracted and sidetracked. As a result, I did not read a single book for
about two years. Instead, I would watch movies and TV series on OTT platforms.
However, a recent encounter with books took me back into the past.
Recently, I had been to my office to collect my belongings
from my locker as the office space had to be handed over to the landlord. All
my stuff had already been packed in a box, so I did not bother to remove it and
check what was inside. Once home, I opened the box and found a stack of books
neatly lying inside along with my other stuff. I knew I had books in my locker
but I had not expected so many. But then there they were, lying adorably in a
corner of the box, as if they were staring at me and calling out to me. Oh, how
I had missed reading!
Not later, I began my reading journey once again. After all,
all those books were waiting for me. I opened the first book and held it close.
In return, it hugged me back with the unparalleled smell of its pages. And as I
started reading, I once again started drowning into a new world. A world I had
forgotten about. A world that was away from reality. A world that has the power
to make one dream. A world that can fulfil dreams. A world that incites power
and love. Can there be anything so perfect?
Books have done a lot for me in the past and I will forever
be grateful. They have given me hope on days I felt low. They have uplifted my
spirits and made me believe in love and life. There was a time in my life when I
was in a not-so-good phase. During this time, books were my best friends. I
would drown myself in books and delve into an imaginary, seemingly perfect
world. And no matter how many words I put together to express my feelings, I
can never fully describe the amount of comfort these little things filled with
numerous pages and endless words have given me.
It doesn’t matter whether a book is fiction, non-fiction or
fantasy. Regardless of its theme and genre, a book can take you in a land of
imagination. I have read several non-fiction books, from crime thrillers to autobiographies,
and each of them has had an impact on me. They put you in place of the central
character and take you inside their world. Mind you, this world may not be perfect
as it is not fiction. It may be disturbing and chaotic, but at the end of the
day, you will have your takeaway. And that’s the magic of it. Books inspire and
push you.
It wasn’t very difficult for me to reconnect with my estranged
hobby. With my renewed love and zest for reading, I hope I can discover the joy
of it once again. For now, to anyone and everyone reading this post right now,
I have only advice – READ!
#books #magic #fictionbooks #reading #powerofwords #ReadingAsAHabit #bookreading #nonfictionbooks #bookworm
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