Earlier this month, I talked about how reading is a form of resistance for me. Reading is also a form of salvation for me as well.

1. Reading provides an escape. I can leave behind everything that is troubling me in this world, and slip into the life of the main character. For a few hours my attention is diverted from the traumas of my real life and I can decompress. It also gets me off social media, so I’m not doom scrolling for hours.
2. Reading gives hope. I always feel better after reading a happy ending, whether it be romance or epic fantasy. These days stories with heroes who defeat tyrannical governments in dystopian worlds help me to believe that there could be a way out of the mess we are all in.
3. Reading provides a distraction. When I’m reading, I’m not scrolling through social media feeds or reading news articles, so I’m not focused on everything that’s happening in the world.
4. Reading provides joy. I love happy endings, it’s probably one of the reasons I love romance. Seeing people find love and happiness, career success, defeat the villain, find their way home; whatever the challenge, give me joy and happiness, at least for that moment.

How has reading been a salvation for you?