Reading for pleasure

When reading we remove ourselves from the confines of reality to immerse ourselves in the intrigue of the unfamiliar.

Every book has the potential to touch the human soul deeply, arousing patterns of thought that might otherwise have lain dormant. The pleasure we derive from the written word is unique in that we must labor for it. Other forms of art provide us with stimulus and ask nothing more than our emotional response. Reading is an active pastime that requires an investment of emotion as well as our concentration and imagination. The words we read are merely a starting point for a process that takes place largely within our minds and hearts.

There are few activities as comforting, relaxing, and healthy as perusing the pages of a good piece of fiction or nonfiction. Curling up with a book and a cup of tea is one of the simplest ways we can remove ourselves from the confines of reality in order to immerse ourselves in the drama and intrigue of the unfamiliar. The pleasure of transcending reality is only one aspect of the reading experience, however. Each time we read for enjoyment, whether we prefer the fantastic nature of fiction, the empathy awakened within us by memoir, or the instructive passion of nonfiction, we create entire landscapes in our mind’s eye. The books we choose provide us with the inspiration we need to accomplish such a feat, but it is our own creative reserves that empower us to use our imaginations for this unique and beautiful purpose.

The tales you lose yourself in can lead you on paths of discovery that take you out of your own life and help you see that existence can unfold in an infinite number of ways. You can learn so much from the characters and mentors who guide you from page to page. Your emotions are awakened each time you read, allowing you to become vessels of the passion that pours forth from line after line of print. Ultimately, the books you absorb—those that touch you deeply—will become a part of who you are, providing you with a rich and thrilling world within that you can revisit anytime you wish by simply closing your eyes. If you haven’t read a book for pleasure lately, try and allow yourself the time—you deserve it. (source DailyOm)

Psychiatrist cure of nightmares

EVER SINCE I WAS CHILD, I'VE ALWAYS HAD A FEAR OF SOMEONE UNDER MY BED AT NIGHT. SO I WENT TO A PSYCHIATRIST AND TOLD HIM 'I've got problems. Every time I go to bed I think there's somebody under it.  I'm scared.  I think I'm going crazy..'  
'Just put yourself in my hands for one year,' said the psychiatrist. 'Come talk to me three times a week and we should be able to get rid of those fears..'  
'How much do you charge?'    
'Eighty dollars per visit,' replied the doctor.    
'I'll sleep on it,' I said.  
Six months later the psychiatrist met me on the street.    
'Why didn't you come to see me about those fears you were having?' he asked.  
'Well, Eighty bucks a visit three times a week for a year is an awful lot of money! A Jewish bartender cured me for $10. I was so happy to have saved all that money that I went and bought me a new pickup!'  
'Is that so!' With a bit of an attitude he said, 'and how, may I ask, did a bartender cure you?'  
'He told me to cut the legs off the bed! - Ain't nobody under there now!!!  
SCREW THOSE PSYCHIATRISTS... GO HAVE A DRINK & TALK TO YOUR JEWISH BARTENDER .