Reading for Pleasure and your Health
Reading is a wonderful gift. God makes himself known to us through His word and by reading it we get to know him deeply. He has also designed our bodies to benefit from reading.
Reading for pleasure can calm our nervous system because it can activate our parasympathetic system. When we are stressed the only way to get our body out of flight or fight stress mode is for our parasympathetic system to kick on. There are many ways our parasympathetic system can be activated…breathing techniques, walking in nature, hugging a loved one…but I wanted to highlight reading today. Here is my experience with reading vs. reading for pleasure.
I never enjoyed reading as a child. In school, I completed the required readings. But even on the rainiest day, you wouldn’t find me cozied up with a blanket and a book. Thankfully, times have changed, but I give all the credit to C.S. Lewis. When I was in 11th grade, I finally picked up the book The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I entered into the story and became a part of the adventure. I could feel the fur as we walked past the fur coats in the wardrobe and stepped into the cold icy snow. I was transported from my couch to a new world full of adventure, fun, and pure enjoyment. I am so thankful I read those books, and thus my love of reading begin to grow. I thought college had enough reading with classes; so for a while, I carried on life without the joy of reading.
Fast forward a few years, marriage, and a couple babies, I decided it would be a good idea for me to pick up some books again. My husband has always been an avid reader, so seeing him reading in the evenings, eventually wore off on me. I picked up some books about…how to grow in my parenting, or how to grow in my prayer life, or how to keep my house clean and tried to like reading. Honestly I didn’t like the books I picked up and most of them were left half read and forgotten. So, eventually, I decided I would rather wash the dishes while he read than read a book telling me what else I need to change or do better. So, that’s what I did for a while.
Fast forward again to three kiddos and deployment, I had a ton alone time to fill after I put the kids to bed. For a while I was working on crocheting a blanket and listening to audiobooks (which was also wonderful). But eventually, a good friend recommended and let me borrow a wonderful book called God of the Garden by Andrew Peterson. I distinctly remember laying on the couch, book in hand and breathing calmly and just drinking in the pages like they balm to my soul. This book in particular was described to me as walking through a park at an enjoyably slow pace. So, needless to say, the love of reading was rekindled.
It was also SO good for me to read. I was in a tough season and the healthy escape from the stress of life really calmed my nervous system and really helped me get to a less stressed place. I’ll link a few of my favorite books below :) But you MUST start with Narnia, if you have never read them! You will thank me and your nervous system and friends will thank you!
Favorite Adventure Series
The Dream Keeper Saga Book 1, Book 2, Book 3, Book 4
Happy Reading!
Chels
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