Heart & Soul of Reading



“Reading gives us some place to go when we have to stay where we are.” -Mason Cooley. 

For as long as I can remember, I have been a reading fanatic! I see each book as a passageway into an entirely new and magnificent adventure. In comparison to Cooley’s relatable words, I believe that the book itself is not simply an escape from reality. Rather, it is a shortcut to a better one. I once heard someone say that reading is dreaming with open eyes, and I strongly agree with this. From personal experience, I know the immense blessings my zealous love of reading has brought to the table. I’d like to take a moment to share a glimpse of the inevitable impact it has had in my own life. 


An awe inspiring author, J.K. Rowling, once stated, “I do believe something very magical can happen when you read a good book.” Since I was about five years old, I have had the impressive ability to completely disappear within the depths of my most prominent obsession; books! Following a traumatic experience I had as a child, books instantly became my outlet. I discovered rather quickly that the raw, candid authenticity within them offered a far more preferable reality than the one I was living. Most of my childhood was spent knee-deep in pages upon pages of books. I was absolutely enthralled by each heroic role model, captivating me, and stealing my undivided attention. Justifying my passion as simply a "fascination" of reading would definitely be an understatement, I was undeniably enchanted. 



Now that I have grown up a bit, I can more fully appreciate and recognize the incredible influence these countless novels have had on me. As a result, I chose to share the joy of reading with my two younger sisters. My family grew, as did our love, when we adopted Jaide and Emily, my angel sisters who have Down Syndrome. Both of these precious girls have such a spectacular light within them, that ignites my soul on fire! Their shining faces beam up at me as we make our journey through bookcases of stories. They’ve truly shown me how powerful teaching an appreciation of reading can be. I know that reading will forever and always be a powerful tool in my own life, and hope that it can be for Emi and Jaidey as well. To end, I’d like to share one last quote by Joanne Harris that reads, “Some books you read. Some books you enjoy. But some books just swallow you up, heart and soul!”
JOYsister~Les

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