The Importance of Reading

Last week, I moved from Indiana to New Jersey. We purchased on house on Tuesday the 24th. My husband had many wonderful plans in place so that we would have telephone, tv and computer access starting on the 24th which was also the day our furniture arrived. Through a variety of errors, we had no phone, no internet and no satellite tv until today. To relax between unpacking boxes, I would read. I can’t imagine what I would have done to pass the time if I was unable to read.

I read for pleasure. I read for work. I read a lot either in print or on the web. Reading is as natural for me as breathing. So you can imagine my shock when I read on UNESCO

Today one in five adults is still not literate and two-thirds of them are women while 72 million children are out of school.

This was shocking to me. I remember fondly reading to my daughters. Many nights with my oldest we read Good Night Moon. Everynight with my youngest we read Llama, llama red pajama. These books were a signal to them that it was bedtime and all would be okay. I have enjoyed reading with my children as they learn about new places and new things.

But reading should be more than just for pleasure. It is a way we learn and connect with people. Books have been a way for me to learn. It is not uncommon for friends and family to enjoy a book so much that they want me to read it too. This lets me know what they value as well as gives me an impression of who they think I am and what I am about. Reading is important and something that I am grateful I am able to enjoy.