Benefits of Winter Reading
Reading in the wintertime — at least in my opinion — has really never gotten the attention and respect it truly deserves. Those in the publishing industry tend to promote books for summer getaways. This takes away from the major benefits of reading in the winter which is able to transform those cold, grey and dreary days into an explosion of senses from a gripping novel.
One reason to stock up on some enjoyable reads is that you can transport yourself to a far warmer place just by opening up your imagination to the creativity of a skilled author. Rather than wallow in the wet weather that prevents you from participating in outdoor activities, read about someone else’s radiant respite and immerse yourself in it.
Winter reading is wonderful when you have the opportunity to cozy up in fleece-lined pajamas with the rest of your family, perhaps warming your toes by an open fire and enjoying the cold outdoors from inside your house. There’s little better than listening to the pounding raindrops outside while you are indoors, especially if you are enjoying a delightful drama by one of your favorite authors as the marshmallows in your hot cocoa melt in your mouth.
Reading a book on cold days while the rest of your housemates do the same, also provides a tremendous opportunity to share and discuss your book with those around you. People of all ages can engage in this in the same way and everyone can learn something new. You’d be shocked at people’s different interpretations for example of A. A. Milne’s The House at Poor Corner for example.
And talking of Winnie the Pooh, for those who have a hard time ‘doing nothing’ (something the Bear of Little Brain was incredibly adept at doing), use this opportunity to practice relaxation as you immerse yourself in something altogether wonderful without it being indulgent enough to make you feel guilty. You’ll see how much benefit you get from this in no time and it acts as a training ground for improving your ability to ‘just be.’
