Happy Reader, Amazing Life

As my mom has told me, I learned to read at a fairly young age.  I'm not sure what my earliest memory is exactly, but I can remember being able to read in all of my memories, and for me, it was a rather natural process.  She read to me each night before going to bed, and I was able to pick up much of it from that.  Once I started school, I learned there, but could already read some on my own.   

When I was in elementary school, I fell in love with The Babysitters Club series and somehow, probably through school book fairs, came to own the first several books in the series.  I read and reread them all.  I enjoyed many books and different kinds of stories, but that series is what I credit with making me a reader.  I still have all those books, and my daughter has read the graphic novel versions of the same series.  She owns those and though she has outgrown them, won't part with them.  It's also what made her a reader. 

We are halfway through 2025, and at this point in the year, I have read over 70 books.  So, not only am I a reader, but an avid one.  I have had people ask me why I read so much, and I have to say that although the act of reading brings me joy, the main reason is: one, I like a good story, whether it is fiction or nonfiction, and two, I enjoy learning.  

In school, I wasn't the most intelligent kid in any class I was ever in, but I was usually one of the better students, and I think it's because I really enjoyed learning something new.  I went to college not knowing what my major would be, but because I like taking classes and getting new experiences.  I have come to realize that reading is the biggest contribution to adventure, travel, and learning.

Traveling is fun, and with what little travel I have experienced, I easily tire out when traveling, and sometimes even the thought of traveling exhausts me.  I have a list of places I'd like to visit, but in my head, I've had more adventures and travel experiences than most, just while sitting on my patio in my favorite chair. Books are like a vacation for me, and they certainly cost much less than the real thing.

I think we can learn a lot by reading fiction, but I also think it is important to dip our toes into the pool of nonfiction as well.  I recently heard on a popular podcast that I listen to that some of the most successful students coming out of homeschool are those who claim to have read a lot of memoirs and biographies.  If you are reading the story of another person's life, not only are you getting to see the world from a different perspective, but you are also learning how to handle or not handle certain situations and circumstances.  I think all people, even those who may seem mundane, have lived interesting lives.  

Even more than stories of people, reading nonfiction books can replace many courses and classes that can be offered in schools and universities.  I've learned so much about homeschooling, education philosophies, sleep, homesteading, gardening, the food industry, and countless others, just by reading a book. I can't recall much of what I learned in college, but much of what I read in these books has stuck with me.  There are books on everything, and if you are interested in it, you can learn about it.  No one will issue you a diploma for reading them, but you will be smarter.

Sometimes people will say to me things like, "I just don't enjoy reading," or "I don't have time to read."  And to that I say, "That's because you haven't found the right book," and "Have you heard of audiobooks?"  We all need to be able to read becuase life throws a lot of words in our direction.  Why not use that skill for leisure as well?  I learned to love reading at a young age, but there have been times in my life when what I read was for work or school.  But I always came back to reading for pleasure because there is so much to gain from it. 

A few years ago, I discovered what I consider a luxury in audiobooks.  If we had someone who read to us as a child, then we know how nice it is to be read to.  That enjoyment doesn't go away just becuase you get older.  As a homeschool mom, I still read to all of my children, and one of my oldest enjoys it the most.  I often read to my middle school students when I was working in a classroom.  That's what audiobooks are!  And so many of the books have such great narrators that when I get the urge to reread a book I love, I will often find the audio version if I know it has a good narrator.  Audiobooks are my getaways on my daily walks through my neighborhood, and how I pass the time doing chores like the laundry and washing dishes.  If you have to do something that is a chore, an audiobook can really help you enjoy that time much more.  

I have quite a collection of books that I own, but I only have so much bookshelf space and even if you are buying them used, the cost of books can add up quickly.  As much as I love reading, I have never enjoyed reading on an electronic reader, and I much prefer to have the book in my hand.  This is why my local library has become a pretty regular part of my weekly routine.  I check out an abundance of books, and if I don't get them read, I renew them.  If I read a book I know I'd like to own, then I can purchase it.  But the library has saved me so much money, and you can use it for audiobooks as well as physical copies.  There aren't many other hobbies you can do for free. 

If you are someone who doesn't like to read, reach out to a reader and have him or her recommend a book.  Don't stop looking until you find one you like, and don't finish the ones you don't enjoy.  There are too many good books in the world for that. If the act of reading feels too daunting, try audiobooks.  They could truly change your life.  You don't have to be like me and read 100+ books in a year, but if you read one book per month or even every two months, you'd be reading 6-10 books per year.  Think of all you could learn and experience with that.  Happy reading!