Reading: The Best Investment You’ll Ever Make

I’ve always believed that reading is one of the best investments you can make in life. And I don’t just mean books about psychology or personal growth (though those are excellent). I mean reading in general—novels, short articles, even those random stories you stumble upon online that leave you reflecting long after you’ve finished.

Every time I read something new, I feel recharged. It’s like having a strong cup of coffee in the morning… but for the mind. Reading motivates me, keeps me awake, and fuels my imagination. If I go too long without it, I start to feel dim, like when the power goes out in the middle of a sweltering Dominican summer day (which happened a few times just recently).

Books have also been a blessing in raising my daughters. Sometimes I read articles on parenting, on helping kids manage emotions, or even children’s stories that we later enjoy together. And believe me, they end up teaching me too.

They ask me questions I never would’ve imagined, like: “Mommy, why does Luly (our dog) have so many nipples and we only have two?” Can you imagine? Thanks to reading, at least I have a starting point to answer without going blank (though sometimes I still have to look things up quickly!).

I’ve also noticed a huge difference in my relationship. Our conversations used to revolve around the usual: work, to-do lists, family, bills. But as we’ve started reading more, we’ve found new, refreshing topics to talk about. It’s so much more enjoyable to discuss something interesting one of us read in an article, or an idea we found inspiring. Some texts even make us laugh, because they remind us of the little quirks in our daily life.

I remember once reading a funny story about a couple who always argued because one of them left a wet towel on the bed (or anywhere, really). I laughed so hard because—let’s be honest—we’ve all been there. The article said the real problem wasn’t the towel, but the annoyance it caused. When I shared it with my husband, we ended up laughing at our own little quirks. That’s the beauty of reading: it connects us with real, everyday situations that are sometimes frustrating but often funny too.

Another beautiful thing about reading is how it sparks my desire to travel and explore new places. When I read about Paris, I imagined myself standing before the Eiffel Tower… and years later, I actually celebrated my birthday there, collecting memories as a wide-eyed tourist.

Whenever I dive into stories about Japan, I picture myself walking under cherry blossoms, soaking in the mix of culture and nature. And when I read about my own homeland, the Dominican Republic, I realize how many corners I still have left to discover. For example, how many Dominicans have actually visited Bahía de las Águilas? I finally did this past summer, and it struck me how many only know it from Instagram photos, never from their own experience.

The most wonderful part of reading is that it always teaches me something—something that makes me a better person. Sometimes it’s an idea that makes me reflect, other times it’s a phrase that brings me peace, and often it’s simply a laugh that reminds me not to take life too seriously. These little lessons add up, and they transform me.

That’s why I often say—half seriously, half with my Dominican humor—that those who don’t read, die. Not literally, of course. But they get stuck, living on autopilot, without curiosity or spark. And living like that is almost like not living at all.

So if it’s been a while since you last read, let this be your invitation to start. It doesn’t have to be a big, intimidating book. Start with something simple: a short story, an online article, or that dusty book on your nightstand that’s been waiting for you for months. You don’t need to read a hundred pages a day; just a few can open your mind and remind you how much there still is to discover.

Because reading is traveling, it’s learning, it’s laughing, it’s dreaming—and most of all, it’s staying alive, awake, and growing.

And me? I’d rather live a thousand lives through reading than stay trapped in just one.

—Lic. Arlenys García