More than a pleasure, reading on a trip is a must. It is to rest our heads in the window of the subway, train or bus to immerse yourself in other worlds, in other lives, these seas of letters allow us to shorten distances, move away from the noise and routine to make sense of time and thus begin. our working days with a renewed spirit.
Ray Bradbury said in one of his books that in this world we have to write and read compulsively so that reality does not destroy us, it must be said, however, that it is not necessary to reach such an extreme, it is simply a question of turning an idea into reality: this habit would certainly allow us to create a much better, more empathetic world , more sensitive and polite.
- Anyone who frequently uses public transport.
- And is also a good observer.
- Has probably realized a reality that has accompanied us for years.
- Users of these means are divided into three types: firstly.
- There are those who merely abstract the gaze.
- Towards infinity (and therefore his thoughts).
- Waiting for his stop.
On the other hand, there are those who, almost without blinking, immerse themselves in the infinite universe of their smartphones; Finally, there are those who are admirable and infatigable readers who, whether with their electronic devices or traditional books on paper, take the time to read a few pages, a chapter, standing or, if they are lucky, sitting.
The benefits of this practice, of this fidelity in reading, are immense, we will see more below.
“To travel far, there is no better spaceship than a book” – Emily Dickinson-
The frame of the upper image belongs to a short-lived artist due to his death, but this work gained remarkable notoriety: The Travel Companions (1862), a close friend of Charles Dickens, left the world this symbolic and a fascinating painting that evokes the past and the future through two young women traveling on a train.
The one on the left, asleep, with hands intertwined and placed in a seascape, represents the ancient Victorian middle class, in front of her, another young woman holds a book, immerses herself in her reading and, next to her, we see a mountainous landscape where you can enjoy an urban core, so this young woman is in harmony with the direction of the train (the other is on her back) , thus representing the other Victorian middle class in which women wake up and occupy greater social significance.
Without a doubt, few images are so symbolic in relation to what reading can offer us. This can be summed up in a few words and also in any form of transport: progress, advancement, conquest of new horizons, etc.
Reading is portable. You don’t have to be in bed or on the couch to read a book. Reading on a trip is a great way to enjoy time, to make these periods of inactivity spaces of great activation for our brain.
Studies such as that led by Dr. Maja Djikic, a psychologist at the University of Toronto, show that reading gives us a unique pause button to train and strengthen our brains, is a time spent on brain health to improve our executive functions. , reduce stress and acquire new knowledge to strengthen our cognitive reserve.
Travel reading provides a unique context for reading, there is no shortage of people, for example, who carry with them a series of specific books on their trips to certain destinations, few things are as pleasant as looking in the air and sometimes being in the air. countries, environments or contexts as the last book we read.
If it is not necessary to visit the exact places of our books to feel the sensations transmitted to us by the author, being outside the walls of our house provides new ingredients for reading: sounds, lights, faces, sensations, etc. These experiences make the reading process much more interesting.
The truth is that not everyone can concentrate on reading while traveling, buses or the subway usually stand out because they do not have peace, for example, from a library, our urban world is a noisy creature, often uncomfortable and incredibly varied in types. sounds.
Therefore, it is interesting to know that those who have become accustomed to this exercise have developed adaptive concentration and concentration skills. The sophisticated ability to read, understand and transcend reading itself?Visualize these worlds and intrigues? It is a value that can be applied in any other field.
In conclusion, it should be noted something that the experts warn: it is not advisable to read when there is excessive movement in the means of transport in which we find ourselves, it is not good for the view. But beyond this detail, it never goes without wearing a book when we’re on our way to work or when we travel.
It is a sensational way to enjoy the trip, to have a different trip in a more interesting, passionate and productive form of transport, perhaps the only danger we find ourselves in is to stop by, but the rest are just benefits.