Reading for Self Care

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Books are literally probably my favorite tool/resource when it comes to healing, spiritually, and literally anything.
This is not a top ten list or a books on specific topics list.
This is a statement, I FREAKING LOVE books.
I’m showing you mine, and I would adore seeing yours!

I am proud of my books, one day I would love to own a library/bookshop/reading center. A conglomerate of sorts hah.

When we take time to read, we are carving out special time to immerse ourselves in something that interests us, something we are passionate about. Audiobooks have a similar effect, and I know many people prefer them, however, I personally don’t think they have the same grounding effect. I do listen to audiobooks, they are great while doing dishes, driving, etc.
I digress.

The benefits of reading on the brain are impressive! Creating new brain patterns, increasing empathy, and strengthening language centers, it is work out worth doing.
This site lists 10 benefits:
https://oedb.org/ilibrarian/your-brain-on-books-10-things-that-happen-to-our-minds-when-we-read/

Now let’s say the material is not some gushy romance, thriller fiction, murder mystery, or spellbinding love story. Don’t worry, not as boring as it sounds!
There are so many enticing, emotional, inspiring, cantputitdown books out there that the subject matter is educational and/or enlightening material.

When I first was getting back into reading as an adult ( not going to lie, I partied and worked a lot, and reading fell to the wayside from childhood until about my mid-twenties) I was browsing a bookstore just to see if anything caught my eye.
The name of the store eludes me, but it was in Phoenix, AZ.
Scanning and scanning, until. I saw this.

The Orchid Thief
by Susan Orlean

Oh my goodness guys. Doesn’t this just intrigue?! Is not your fancy tickled?!
Well, after reading this it will be. My brief summary is this, journalist Susan Orlean went to Florida to write a news article on John Laroche, a handsome, renegade, plant-thieving, incredibly fascinating human, who had gotten into some legal trouble for stealing a ghost orchid off a nature preserve.
That news article turned into this book.
The orchid world is a whole ‘nother world, my friends.

I bought it, I read it, and my passion for reading was re-ignited!
I have hauled my books all across the county, and always pick up more wherever I go.
I can’t even joke that it’s a problem. It just brings me joy.

Here are a few titles I HIGHLY recommend.