Have you ever found out about something when it’s already over? Something that sounded perfect? That was me last week when two days late I saw that April 12th, the birthday of author Beverly Cleary (Ramona and many other books), was D.E.A.R. Day. That is, Drop Everything and Read Day. That is definitely my kind of day and I missed it!
I wouldn’t have been able to celebrate it properly by taking the whole day to read since I am in a Drop Everything and Write mode right now as I work to find those magical words “The End” on my work in progress. Once I find them I will definitely be dropping everything to read it over from page one to page who knows what to see if I’ve written the story I wanted to write and how I can improve it to make it better.
But I think I will mark my calendar for next year for April 12th in big black letters. DROP EVERYTHING AND READ. Or I won’t want to wait that long. I usually give myself the gift of a few concentrated reading days once I have finished writing one of my books. Nothing but reading all day. Except for those things I have to do like cook and walk the dogs and well, you know the routine. But I can still enjoy some stories.
The information on line for D.E.A.R. suggests families set aside at least 30 minutes on that day and block out all distractions like internet, television, telephones, whatever, and enjoy some books together. The site suggested getting together with other readers, reading to someone, or just finding a cozy chair tto read a book that has been in your TBR (To Be Read) pile for awhile. I would need a month of dropping everything to make a dent in my big pile of books I want to read.
Here’s a question I found on Google when I checked out the D.E.A.R. Day. What does reading a lot do for the brain?
Reading consistently strengthens connections in the brain, improves memory and concentration, and may even help you live longer. Reading can also reduce stress levels and prevent age-related cognitive decline. To read more, set aside time every day to pick up a book, whether it’s during your commute or before bed. (5 Ways Reading Benefits your Health – Insider)
There are lists online of ten ways reading fiction helps you. Less stress. Better memory. Enhances creativity. Makes you sleep better were some of them. I expecially liked this one I found here.
Reading makes you happier
While not everyone is going to find a need for some of the benefits of reading, everyone can use a mood boost! Researchers have discovered that reading puts the mind into a “pleasurable trance-like state,” similar to meditation, and improves the mood considerably. In fact, regular readers have been shown to have considerably lower rates of depression and self-esteem problems than non-readers!
Happiness is a great by-product of any activity. Here are some vacation readers. If you’re at the beach and need a rest from the sun or the storms have chased you inside, then it’s good to have a book handy. Or a lap dog in my case in one of the pictures. And every grandmother and grandfather or mom or dad knows the pleasure of reading to little ones. Even when they want to read the same book a zillion times, it’s still fun.
So if you were like me and missed D.E.A.R. on April 12th, just pick another day and drop everything and get happier by reading a book.
What do you think is one of the best things about reading?
As always, thank you for reading!
P.S. – I just looked up Beverly Cleary online and found out she died at 104 years old in 2021. That is the best argument yet for the power of story. 🙂
Comments 20
One of the best things about reading is you get to read about places and times in the past that happened before you existed.
It’s just a pleasure to sit down and read a good story.
Author
That is so true, Connie. I like many different genres but I especially enjoy a story that shows me life in historical times. But then, I enjoy mysteries and family stories and … Any kind that tells a good story is my kind of book.
It’s relaxing. Goer to be in other’s lives, new places, learn about the past. So much.
Author
Those are some of the same reasons I love to read, Lisa. Living different lives, falling in love a dozen times. As someone else, for sure, but you can still feel the emotion. I like learning history while I’m reading too.
That was yesterday for me , it turned cold, windy, and rainy so I grabbed my third book in a series by Tracie Peterson and devoured it most of the day. I read every day it is my favorite thing to do. So sometime every day is a DEAR day especially before bed time.
Author
I love being able to read like that, Donna Jean. To just keep reading as long as the story pulls you in. I like reading every day too, but sometimes like now when I’m trying to get some writing done, I sometimes miss that reading time.
That’s a good question. I like reading most because my attention then is the story line, the character/s, and this blocks out today’s noise. I feel that I am transported to that story and that I am there. I am an avid reader. However, every once in a while I encounter a reading block or perhaps I am read out tired. When I do that, I go to my other crafts — cross-stitching, coloring, search-a-word, etc., and before you know it, I am back to reading.
Author
I don’t think I’ve ever hit a reading block, Loretta. A writing one a time or two. That’s when it’s a good time to take a walk or read a book. I like that a story can transport us into a different world and that we can feel things along with the characters and enjoy the ride the book takes us on.
Reading takes me away to a place I have never visited, into a life different (most of the time) from my own and I love getting to know those characters and places! I know you will find your ending soon and then you can have your DEAR day!
Author
I’m hoping to find that end tonight or maybe tomorrow. I’m saying tomorrow for sure, Pamela. The problem is that every word I’m writing now to get to the end is a word somewhere that I will have to cut since I’m over my contracted word length. But before I can start counting words, I have to find those two I’m looking for. The End.
Reading is a portal into your imagination. I love it when the characters become your friends and perhaps there are sequels to the story to continue the friendship. I love it when authors explain what the characters are eating or wearing so I can imagine it when I am reading. I often give myself a goal, if I can get this chore, etc done, I am rewarded with book time! 📖
Author
I love your idea of rewards, Bonnie. I do that sometimes too and I’m always cross if the chore takes longer than I thought and cheats me out of that reward reading time. A book does take a writer and a reader to truly make the words and characters come to life. I’m not as good as some writers with describing what they are wearing or eating. I’ll have to give that more thought while I’m writing.
I missed D.E.A.R Day too. But I think it’s great that it’s on April 12th, since that was my dear grandmother’s birthday. Mamaw (a school teacher and librarian) taught me to read. She had two favorite sayings for us…”you’re never bored as long as you have a book” and “if you want to know the answer to anything, ask a librarian “. I was blessed to have her for 53 years of my life.
I try (and usually succeed) to read at least 30 minutes every night before bed. If I’m reading a mystery it often turns into a longer reading session. But even mystery or suspense stories relax me and I sleep better than when I don’t make time to read. Now that I only work part time, it’s easy to read more often. And of course my Kindle goes everywhere with me. I’ve usually got a hardback and an ebook in progress at the same time.
Happy writing this week, Ann. I hope you get lots of words down on paper.
Author
You have extra reason to celebrate the D.E.A.R. Day on April 12th, Lavon. I love hearing about your Mamaw and her sayings. I’m like you that I try to give myself between 30 minutes and an hour to read each night. Working late right now so haven’t done that for a few days. I’m also like you that my 30 minutes sometimes stretched past when I should quit and go to bed. LOL. I think I’m reading more now that I have started reading on my Kindle. I still prefer a print book, but a Kindle makes it easier for me (for some unknown reason) to read just a little here and there to increase my reading time.
I am retired so I have a lot of time to read and I do so almost every day. Some days more than others, but very seldom is there a day that I don’t read for at least a little while. I don’t usually keep track of how much I read, but I did when reading Christmas books last November and December. I read 91 books in those two months, so I guess I can say I do read a lot.
Reading, to me, is relaxing, entertaining and learning. I enjoy a lot of genres as long as they are “clean”…preferably Christian. I like long stories, short stories and novellas.
Author
That’s wonderful, Ann, that you are enjoying reading time now that you’re retired. I try to leave a little time each evening to read before bed, but sometimes I let the time slip away without stopping whatever else I’m doing. You did some Christmas reading last year. I hope they kept you in the Christmas spirit. I’ve written one Christmas book, Christmas at Harmony Hill, but I’ve been told it’s not the usual Christmas book story. Still I had Christmas in it.
I love how you say you like long stories, short stories and novellas. That made me smile. I like stories too.
If you read you never get bored.I don’t read as fast as I used to.Seems I jump from reading, to crocheting , to cooking, cleaning, laundry, walking or 100 other things, . I do always have a book started though and 90 percent of the time I have a book with me.. I did read 48 books in the last year.It was my first year of keeping up with the amount since 6th grade.
I have read several hours today, so maybe this was my D.E.A.R day.
Author
Forty-eight books sounds like a lot, Lisa, with all the other things you are doing. I like having a book started all the time too, but sometimes when I’m writing a story myself, I have to pick stories that are nothing like the one I’m writing. In the past, I’ve tried to keep a list of the books I read, but I always get distracted and forget to write them down. If you are on Goodreads, that’s a good way to keep up with the books what you’ve read. You can write reviews there too, but usually I just give the books I read stars and add them to my shelf. That is, when I can remember to do that. I just finished a book I liked called West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge. But I haven’t remembered to add it to my Goodreads shelf of read books yet. Hope you have fun with some more D.E.A.R. days soon.
If I read something scary or extremely suspenseful before bed, I have difficulty sleeping or dream about the scary story line. So, before bedtime, I read books that are not mysteries or suspense stories. I find that reading relaxes me and allows me to gradually get sleepy and then turn off the light and go to sleep. Before an afternoon nap, I can read a little more suspenseful plot, but the reading definitely relaxes me.
Author
I have read stories that were intense, Suzanne, and that bothered me. I’ve even dreamed about the storylines at times, but mostly I’m like you and just find reading relaxing. My biggest problem with reading before bed is that I always want to read one more chapter. 🙂