We have discussed the fulfillment that comes with discovering new favorites or passions
later in life, however for others, there are constants or favorites not so easily subject to change.
For many, reading serves as a lifelong hobby, fostered as early as adolescence. Our appreciation
and understanding of this hobby may change over time, as we mature with our interests and
discover compelling new tales or topics to delve into, yet the act of reading and the enjoyment it
offers is ever present.
This consistency in a favorite only speaks to our love of it, how uniquely suited it is to
our own interests and temperament, that this passion endures throughout our lives. It evolves
with us, shifting into whatever we need it to be, from dyadic children’s stories like “Frog and
Toad” to more thoughtful character examinations, such as J.D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the
Rye,” to the pleasure reading of the numerous pulpy crime thrillers of Elmore Leonard, books are
an eclectic and varied medium, capable of being so much to so many.
This personal constant will always speak to the avid reader, and there is no shame in this.
While many may benefit from hearing “It’s time to change your favorites,” at moments in their
lives, others or even merely other aspects of someone’s life are far more content to stick with the
path they are on. There is comfort and familiarity in libraries and stories, in shifting through
pages on a quiet, candlelit evening. And to whatever your constant may be, know that there is
always comfort and strength to be gleaned from old familiar favorites.