LIFEST Y LES AN ADVERTISING SECTION OF EVERGREEN NEWSPAPERS | VOL. 13 ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2021
B K W, Publisher
A capacity, and taste, for reading gives access to whatever has already been discovered by others. —Abraham Lincoln The act of reading, of allowing one’s mind to leave the present and wander through the lyrical pages of a book well written is a gift we give to ourselves, and one that should not be squandered or overlooked. There are few activities in which we can participate that will have as great an effect on our lives and help to form our thinking. Reading is an opportunity to rest the mind, refresh one’s outlook and restore the soul and it comes without self-medication, expensive indulgence, or
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OF THE MONTH arduous effort. It can be accomplished without a charging station or earbuds; there is no need for a uniform or special equipment and you don’t have to pay a fee or join a group. Reading is a solitary effort that surrounds us with people and takes us to places we may never have been, offering a new setting filled with undiscovered acquaintances that allow us to shift our perspective and just breathe. Reading should not be presented to children as a chore, a duty. It should be offered as a gift. —Kate DiCamillo
Several years ago I was privileged to lead a summer reading program for a group of young people who were sure they didn’t like to read. We met once a week, on the patio, soaking up the warmth of the summer morning and we did only one thing. We talked about the book we were reading. The students were given an assignment each week to read a certain number of chapters. I assured them that no written work would ever be assigned as long as they were able to discuss the reading material in a way that proved their participation. Somewhat to my surprise, these baseball players and mountain climbers and video game wizards, who were sure they had no taste for the written word, became fully engaged in our effort, sharing
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