When was the last time you read a book? When was the last time you read a quote and reflected on it? When was the last time you sniffed a new book from a bookstore and let out a sigh of relief and comfort? When was the last time you fumbled over a romantic quote and blushed over it? When was the last time you were dragged out of a bookstore by your friends after you ended up spending hours there?
                                                                     

Okay! Okay! One last question. When was the last time you created
something of your own, like writing a story or an essay or a simple poem or even a blog like this?! (p.s. Do not include those leave letters written to your class teacher or principal) 
 
Well, many of you might have done the above-mentioned things recently but this blog is for those who haven’t leafed through the pages since ages, like me. 
Also, I am not including those soft copies/PDFs that we are much accustomed to these days and you will know why as you keep going with this blog.
 
So, where do we start from? Benefits of reading books?? Nahh.. too generic
Everyone is aware of quotes like : “Books are the keys to the enchanted realms of knowledge, wisdom, and imagination.” And “Reading is the exercise of the mind; It keeps the intellect agile, the imagination vivid, and the soul enlightened.”
 
But let’s be real ! the actual benefits are wayyyy more than just acquiring knowledge and sharpening imagination. At least these were the “facilities” I enjoyed as a vivid reader till my teenage life until the wave of technology hit me. 
The peace after avoiding unnecessary gossip and tantrums in real life as I was mostly engrossed in the havoc happening in my sci-fi books.

                                                                   


The utter pleasure of being recognized as a “studious” kid while all you did was read another mystery novel of Agatha Christie. Honestly speaking, there isn’t much difference between your friends who watch movies and you, and yet, ‘You are the better person in the troop’ .
Books are portable sources of entertainment. I know, phones do the same too. But do you freely use your phone in class? No right?
A free trip around the world without moving an inch or having to pay a penny. And the list will go on. 
 
But jokes aside, there are certain powerful qualities that one can acquire only by the habit of reading books. These are the qualities that are in demand in every industry. You name it. And today’s youth is struggling to show them both in professional life and personally.
And these qualities are: 
1. Emotional Intelligence
2. Creativity
3. And finding peace in solitude
 
These are the qualities that one can cultivate through reading books. If you ask me how?
It’s simple, the more you read, the more you think and the more you imagine, thus, honing your imagination. Those simple phrases and paragraphs traverse you into a magical realm. How cool is that?
And all of this is possible only because of your imagination. And trust me, it keeps getting better as you go on reading more and more.
And this will eventually transform you into a creative genius. So in real life, if you ever have to imagine a situation and come up with a solution for it, it won’t be a difficult task as you are already accustomed to the practice.

                                                                         
It doesn't stop there, If you have ever read fictional books, you must have noticed your facial expression shifting in accordance with the chapters of the novel. You start relating with the characters, hating other characters, getting inspired or blushing over some other scenes, becoming emotional over the death of a character, and so on. This might seem like just another form of entertainment but little do you know that this practice is improving you emotionally. It awakens a soft side in you and trust me, emotional intelligence and empathy are much-needed qualities in the present generation.
                                                                          
 
And lastly, finding peace in solitude. 
The power of enjoying one’s own company is pretty underrated. In the present generation, everyone wants to be a part of a “cool squad “ or a group. I’m not against the idea of socializing but situations might arise where you might have to be alone (like COVID) and during times like these, I have personally seen many people struggling to be alone. And I strongly believe that books are the only inanimate objects that are going to bring you out of this when all the socializing is banned and the internet is down.

                                                                                                    
 
The genres of books are many and each one has a different thing to teach. Ranging from fantasy to horror, mystery to romance, self-help to biographies and so on, but one thing is common, they will never leave your side (unless you place your book somewhere and forget it 🤧)
If you have reached till this end, thank you for reading and I’m going to end this blog with a quote of my own :
“Reading 20 pages a day, will keep the nonsense away.” ✌🏻
Happy reading!!  :))

My normal day in a bookstore : 
 


~ A. RASHMI BHAVANI 
  ANITS Engineering College