Today, I want to get real about something that shaped me, something that might sound simple, but it honestly saved my life: reading. 📖
You might know bits of my story – born into poverty, bounced around foster homes, dealt with more hardship than any kid should. A lot of those days were dark, and honestly, very scary - and really lonely. Let's just say I know what struggle feels like. But there was one thing no one could take away from me - my mind. 🧠
Even when my world was crumbling, I could always escape into a book. Books became my sanctuary. In the pages of stories, I could be anywhere, anyone. A detective solving mysteries. A heroine creating change. A boundary-breaker who was in control of my own life. In short, a kid who, against all odds, found a way to create a better life. Those weren't just characters to me – those were blueprints of possibility. 🤩
Stories taught me that anything is possible. They sparked my imagination, showed me different ways of thinking, and helped me understand that even the toughest times pass. I learned about people who overcame way worse than my situation, and that gave me hope. Plus, let's be real, reading powers your brain! Better vocabulary, critical thinking, empathy… those are life skills that helped me climb out of that hard place. And they can help anyone. 🙌
And it wasn't just getting lost in stories that paved the way for hope and opportunity. Reading is a workout for your brain. Every book I read was like doing reps for my mental strength and capacity. 💪
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Thinking Power - My reading adventures made me a master problem-solver. How would that detective figure it out? What choices could that character make? How could one find a strategy when it looks hopeless. This helped me see there was always a way out, even when life felt like a dead-end maze or a hamster wheel I couldn't get off. 🛞
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Feeling My Feels - Reading about characters going through tough times (sometimes way worse than mine!) made me feel less alone. Turns out, we're all wired pretty similarly on the inside. My own struggles made a bit more sense, and that was step one to dealing with them. Sometimes, it was just comforting to know someone else felt the same way, which made my own feelings less scary. 🤗
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Word Wizardry - All those stories seeped into my bones (and continue decades later). I found words to express myself, to channel towards projects and program that made me smarter, to dream bigger. Communication is like a superpower, and books are one of the major tools that helped me unlock it. 🦸♀️
Beyond the books, journaling became my secret weapon. It was a safe place to pour out all the tangled thoughts and fears. To write down dreams and lists of things I wanted (and didn't want) when I was able to control it. To create my own stories that helped me survive. That act of writing it down helped me organize my mind and find those glimmers of hope. ✍️
I am definitely not saying reading magically erased my problems. Life is messy, progress isn't always a straight line. But those stories, facts, and characters became some of my biggest mentors, showing me a much larger world existed, and that I was capable. 🔎🗺️
Reading = Your Superpower, Too
Here's the thing - you have this same power. Maybe your struggles are different from mine, but at the core, we all want to feel understood, to find our strengths, to build lives we love. Books and stories are tools that can be used to help you in so many ways. 🧰
Here are some ways to make reading your superpower:
- No "Shoulds" - Forget what's considered "important" literature. Like what you like and read what works for you! Novels, comics, magazines, audiobooks – they all count. 😍
- Small Bites - Can only focus for 10 minutes? That's awesome! It's about making it a habit, not a marathon. Set a timer, putting reading into your waking or bedtime habits - or maybe lunchtime. Digital apps make it possible to read anywhere, anytime you have free - even just a few minutes. Figure out what works for you.
- Get Curious - Love true crime? Learn more about forensics! Into superheroes? Explore mythology! Find biographies of people you admire or who are doing things in a field or hobby you are interested in. Reading is a springboard for your passions. ❤️
- Talk It Out - Found a book you love? Share it! Discussing what you read deepens your understanding and builds community. Book clubs aren't just for discussing Jane Austen or Oprah's Book Pick – there are groups for every genre and interest out there! Look for book clubs that match your reading preferences. If you can't find one - start one! (I personally love Fable.) 🗣️
It's not about being a bookworm (though hey, that's cool too!). It's about filling your mind's library with tools to handle whatever life throws your way. My journey is proof of what's possible. And honestly, there are so many more stories of resiliency beyond mine - the world is full of them! Seek the ones that have pieces relevant to you, and dig into them. Life is always about finding the tools that resonate with YOU! 🫵
Reading is about so much more than just sitting still with a book. It is about finding what fuels your curiosity, teaches you something new, or gives you a healthy way to escape the drama going on around you. We all need a break sometimes! And trust me, the more you read, the stronger your mind gets. My mentors were the characters on the page and the authors who opened my eyes to new possibilities - or even the people I met from the journeys my reading took me on outside of the book. Because I was inspired to follow up on my curiousity. 🤔
Want to give it a try? Share one way you'll squeeze in some extra reading time today! I'm here for every step of this journey. Stories have the power to change your life – they sure changed mine! ✨
Cheers,
Chief Moji Muser and EmojiIRL™ Creator
#emojiexpression #emojiIRL #getyourmojion #yourmatter #writeyourownstory
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