Literature has shaped my life playing a major role in influencing the thoughts, feelings, and perspectives I have of the world through the lens of the author. Throughout my life, books offered a sense of escapism, wisdom, power, and intellect. Literature has allowed me to experience different worlds, exclusively for me to participate in like The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis or Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. As I continue to age, literature has become more of a way of life, pages of art that are capsuled in this space and time.
One of the most impactful ways literature has influenced my life is by enriching the emotions of putting myself in a character’s shoes. Through the different types of literature such as fiction, non-fiction, drama, and poetry, I walked with the author’s characters’ development and their experiences as if I were the one going through it myself. Whether it be Marina trying to escape from the rebellion in Iran during the Islamic Revolution in Prisoner of Tehran by Marina Nemat, the tempestuous relationship between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, or the internal hardship of drug addiction for a teenager named Alice in Go Ask Alice by Anonymous, literature has showcased varies scenarios that seemingly, allowed me to mature in such a vast manner. These stories educated me on topics that were difficult to speak of in my own home growing up. It allowed me to empathize with each character, embracing the changes throughout the story. The elements of literature have given me great insight into all the complexities that human nature can consist of in divine totality.
In addition, literature has also been an amazing tool for gaining perspective. The characters and themes that I’ve read influenced the way I perceived people around me, including family, friends, and the individuals in the neighborhood that I was raised in. I found myself in such profound thought, catching myself reflecting on the literature I read and relating characters to individuals I see present in my life. It challenged me to see life like a kaleidoscope because you never know what someone is going through. I allowed myself to be intertwined with my current reality and the perception of the beautifully created pieces of literature being read. In books like Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom, I was motivated to treat people more kindly, to be present, and to never take those in your life for granted because you never know when you will be saying goodbye to the ones you love, and with The Perks of Being a Wallflower with Charlie dealing with the two major deaths of love ones while in high school, battling PTSD being an anxious introvert, and unsure of his love life.
Literature has influenced my life. The experiences of these novels influenced my personal, mental, and spiritual growth. I shall continue to embark on remarkable pieces of literature through my upcoming years of personal development.
About the author This reading reflection is by Luzinda Hope.
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