Instead of scrolling Facebook this am, I read. I became totally immersed in a group of folks in a retirement village in England who love to meet and try and solve cold cases. But low and behold a murder takes place in their own little world. And they are off to solve a real life case, working with the police and everything! So good. So funny.
This got me thinking about the difference between Facebook and reading. Facebook gives me a glimpse into someone's life. The glimpse is usually a shiny, well curated look at a moment in their life. A book gives me a story. I get the good, bad and ugly. I can relate much better to a whole story because that is what I am living, the story of me!
Reading requires my attention. Scrolling does not. I want to really pay attention to what is going on in life. I want to know the whole story of my tribe. Yes I want to celebrate the good but I also want to walk beside them in the not so good.
Then there is scientific evidence that reading helps slow down cognitive decline. I swear I feel cognitive decline already at 64! Anything to help in that area, yes please! There is evidence that people who read live almost 2 years longer than those who don't. If I made a pill that one could take to prevent some cognitive decline and extend your life by 2 years, I would be very rich and popular indeed.
When I scroll social media I end up feeling more alone and less connected to others.. When I read I feel like I am connecting with the characters and I feel less alone. I am not quite sure why this is?? Anyway, gotta go my friends at the retirement village in England are waiting for me, we have a murder to solve!
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