Do You Read?

I consider myself a pretty boring person. I do not like to party, drink too often, meet a lot of people, or even try a lot of things. I enjoy my company the most and love the idea of puttering around. In this boring life, reading is my one vice. I have sold my collection of books twice in my life already in an effort at keeping it minimal but they were still overflowing. Mind you, I have a Kindle and I read as much on there as I do physical books.

My parents would get me books when I was a schoolgirl, thinking they were for the entire summer holidays, which I would finish reading in a week. I also had a deal with a bookseller in Bahrain Mall (where my parents went to do their weekly grocery shopping) where if I returned the book within a week, he would replace it with another similar from the same series and not charge me. (Okay, now that I think of it, that was unusually kind of him and he lost money while I read all the Lizzy McGuire books after paying for just one.) I also got amazing discounts at Jashanmal. God bless the people who helped me become a reader!

That is my one hobby. That is it. I am not interested in the arts, crafts, athletics, team sports, musical instruments, or any other activity that involves me talking to another person. This past weekend and beginning of the new week, I completed three books in four days. I am very proud of my reading habits, as you can tell. But it makes me wonder, why don't more people read? Do you know how amazing it is to use books to escape the humdrum of everyday life, issues, reality, and sometimes emotions.

I wonder what kind of society we are turning into where nobody is willing to ponder over the thoughts that didn't originate in their own heads. I honestly think that reading is the solution to the many problems that have risen in society. Here are just a few things that I think reading can solve:

• Social-media addiction

• The ADHD/ADD epidemic

• The absolute obsession with self and entitlement

• Consumerism

• Cyber-bullying

• Lack of creativity

• Burnout from overworking/overthinking

• Overuse of technology

Also, reading is quite an affordable hobby and does not need accessories (apart from the book itself). Imagine a world of readers, getting enriched every day with thoughts, compassion, tolerance, new ideas, and new things to discuss with their fellow humans.

A final thought: You may think you aren't a reader. But the truth is that you just haven't found your favourite genre yet.

Pepa wants you to pick a book. Any book will do.