The importance of reading
In his book, “Easier Than You Think”, Richard Carlson has a chapter in which he talks about the importance of reading. He acknowledges that there was a time in his life when he felt that he didn’t have enough time to read. But as he writes, “It is one of the most important transformations any of us can make.”
Carlson tells how he was challenged by a good friend who helped him see that, with some motivation, “all of us can find the time to read.”
As he writes, his friend “knew that one of the reasons people don’t read is that they haven’t caught the bug. In other words, they don’t know how much fun it is to be on the edge of your seat, wondering what’s next, unable to put a book down; they haven’t yet discovered that reading can completely entertain you wherever you go, any time of the day. Once we’re hooked on reading, our lives become so much richer and more interesting.”
So what Carlson’s friend did was ask him if he could “read eight pages a day, every day, for a year, from books that were not required reading (Carlson was eighteen at the time and still in school).”
Carlson didn’t think he could say no to someone who was a friend and role model; so he agreed to accept his challenge. A short time later, his friend sent him a box of books, with an attached note: “Richard, remember our deal - eight pages a day is all it takes.”
Even though Carlson was a bit overwhelmed, he remembered what he used to say to himself in sports when preparing for a game: “One step at a time.” With that approach, Carlson began his reading challenge; and as he looked back on that year, he saw it as a turning point in his life.
As he wrote, “I had looked at reading as something I had to do, but after agreeing to his friend’s challenge, I started to look at it as something fun to do. Reading took me places I had never been. My imagination grew and my creativity soared. I found myself reading every chance I got . ... I was hooked for life.”
For someone who, at one time, said he didn’t think he had the time to read, it is amazing to think that reading had a profound affect upon his life, and upon his learning, enabling him to pass on his wisdom and knowledge to others through his writings. This included several books written by Carlson, among them, Don’t sweat the small stuff, You can be happy no matter what, and the book from which the subject of this article came, Easier than you think.
Hopefully his message will inspire us to find more time to read and, by so doing, enrich our lives. May it be so for us! Harvie Barker is a Penticton resident and writer of inspirational messages. He’s the author of the book, A Good Word in Season Volume 8, now available at the front desk of The Penticton Herald for $10 with all proceeds to local charity.