dear people who (think they) don't like to read,

hear me out.

i only started reading seriously at the age of 18. i come from a chinese-educated family and i've always found it an immense struggle to read, especially in English, because it required so much of my time and attention to finish a single book. nothing ever caught my eye because i was much more interested in comic books as a child. however, when i was 18. i finished The Hunger Games in the span of about 3 days for all 3 books, and it was the fastest i've ever read anything in my life. this, mind you, was my first time reading a legitimate book without being forced, after more than 10 years of staying away from any kinds of English books.

i think the reason why many people say they don't like to read or just can't read is the fact that how our already-short attention span was minimized by all the electronics and gadgets surrounding us in our lives. information is one touch away, social media posts are getting shorter and shorter, people only want to see pictures or charts, and anything that takes more than 15 seconds to load is not worth anyone's time.

behold, the microwave generation.

and i feel like i am able to say this, to tell this to your face, dear unbeliever of reading (or your own capability of being able to read), is because i've gone through it. nurturing a habit to read is never too late, and certainly not impossible. you just need to find things that you like. it's simple: just like wanting to get fit, you choose a sport or a workout routine that you like and suits you. reading is as essential as keeping fit, because it is precisely the mind's gym sessions. reading works our mind, and we need to keep those cogs in our brains going so that we can keep getting better at so many things in life.

reading also enriches our souls. every experience you get from reading a book, whether good or bad, is an experience that impacts your soul. it leaves a mark. there are so many great writers with so many fantastic stories (fictional or not) waiting for you to discover them. start easy, like me. i started with a Young Adult dystopian novel, which was only catching up to popularity then. if you're inspired by a certain famous person and have always wanted to know the secret to their success, read an autobiography. if you love the magical and fantastical, go to the fantasy section and there will be plenty of books to choose from. if you love romantic stories, then head on over to the countless stacks of Nicholas Sparks and Cecelia Ahern novels. if you're into entrepreneurship, grab a self-help book and start reading your bum off. the list is endless!

honestly, if you really don't know where to start, leave a comment below on what you're interested to read, and i'll find something that's simple enough and easy to read for you. i promise you won't ever regret picking up reading as a habit. ever.

nothing beats the smell of a book in your hands.