When I was in primary school, I used to read books (instead of pulling out my phone).

I'd visit the local library every week, grab a 5-6 comics and a novel after browsing it for an hour. I'd come home and plop on the bed and finish reading everything in a span of 2 hours. Sunday was reserved for the novel (because flow). I still recall how I'd be lost in an imaginative space of the authors words and my painting of the same.

It was freedom at its best - no distractions, pure bliss.

If I could bottle this feeling and sell it, I'd be richer than Bezos. That's how valuable attention is today. Today I find myself reaching out for my phone, while back then, I'd reach out for a book. I didn't have an urge to 'share' online "What I'm reading" with a picture of the book and a cup of coffee.

Now we share more pictures of the present than actually being in it.

Things started to change when I got a cell phone. That portable devil was more attractive than a book due to its instant gratification.

Why read a book when you can text people in seconds, see memes, receive likes and watch YouTube?

I'd like for you to ponder on that question a bit 😄

Most people these days tell me "I want to start reading again"

'Again', which means that a lot of us have been there, either in books, or some other activity - art, music, play and the likes.

Why does this story matter? It's an indicator that, as kids, we did things we wanted without caring what others think. No notifications to distract us and no comments telling us how good or bad we were.

“All the time you're saying to yourself, 'I could do that, but I won't,' — which is just another way of saying that you can't.” ― Richard P. Feynman

The benefit of 'not caring what others think' is you don't have to limit your beliefs.

You're free to achieve anything you want to. A lot of skills may be required, and for that your first step might be to read again, be curious and read more.

What do you care what other people think?