When was the last time you did any sort of substantial reading?

I am not talking about scrolling on social media on your phone, but reading a long form article in a magazine, or a book for that matter.

Sadly, its seems our fast-paced lifestyles leave us little time to pick up a book, let alone get down to reading one.

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I remember being introduced to books in primary school. I was a regular visitor to the school and public libraries, and I haven’t stopped reading since.

I suppose in my line of work reading comes with the territory, but I don’t see it is a chore but rather something that I enjoy.

I could easily get lost in a book. I can read a 400 pager in a day if it grabs my attention. And lately, I have done that with little else to do with Covid-19 in our midst.

Thrillers and suspense are my reading material of choice (murder and mayhem as I like to call it), but on occasion I will venture into other genres.

If I was locked in a library and the key thrown away, I would be in my element, I can just imagine the thousands of books at my disposal.

Impractical, I know but probably possible.

Books offer a variety of benefits – mental stimulation, stress reduction, knowledge, vocabulary expansion, memory improvement, stronger analytical thinking skills, improved focus and concentration and better writing skills. Who wouldn’t want to be armed with this skillset?

Recently, I have formed a little book club at home with my mother and sister, we buy several books a month.

It has worked out pretty well so far. My mum is a voracious reader and the books are being read in record time.

We have told her in no uncertain terms that we cannot support her ‘habit’. Her solution is that she will only read 50 pages a day, but I don’t think that is possible.

Besides books, I enjoy keeping up with current affairs, both national and international. I also particularly enjoying reading articles about travel and unusual destinations.

Recently, I saw something on hiking in Japan, along the Michinoku Coastal Trail, the area was devastated by the tsunami 10 years ago, but now the trail is helping locals reclaim the coast and heal from the tragedy.

I was excited for a moment and considered it an amazing experience, out of my comfort zone, but then reality hit with Covid and its travel restrictions.

But at least I got to read about it, and I have made a note of it for the day when the world is back to normal and I will hopefully be able to travel there.

I can’t image a life without books, so with Christmas around the corner, if you are unsure what to get a family member as a present – consider buying a book.

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