“You don’t need a brush with death to grasp the value of life, nor do you need to endure hardship to understand the complexities of human nature…”
When young people (myself included) seek advice from their elders on this matter, the familiar refrain is:
“Go out and experience more.”
They proceed to recount tales of their travels, the fascinating individuals they’ve encountered, and the invaluable lessons gleaned from life’s trials. They often pause, offering a knowing smile (or perhaps not), seemingly content that they’ve imparted some wisdom to a younger soul.
However, they often overlook a crucial point: every experience carries a cost.
How can a young person from a family with a modest income realistically afford life-altering experiences abroad, especially in destinations demanding proof of substantial wealth?
How can a student juggling both work and studies possibly find the time for experiences beyond the confines of their academic and professional obligations?
How can someone facing health challenges even contemplate the experience of conquering a mountain?
The more transformative the experiences that reshape our perspectives, the greater the investment required. Therefore, while the value of experiences is undeniable, they are not always accessible or attainable for all.
The Key to Experiencing Life Without the High Cost
…is reading books.
While almost everyone is aware of this, the profound value it holds often goes unrealized. It’s akin to knowing agarwood exists in the forest, yet finding it demands personal effort and a stroke of luck.
For a minimal cost, often just a few dollars, books provide the cheapest gateway to countless experiences. They are like doors to time travel and journeys across the cosmos, leading you to places beyond your wildest dreams.
- Read fiction: Through fiction, you can live countless lives, ignite your imagination, and immerse yourself in fantastical worlds inhabited by a lightning-scarred wizard, fearsome fire-breathing dragons, far-flung civilizations light-years away, or even encounter the Little Prince on his tiny asteroid.
- If you could dwell in such realms and raise a dragon, what name would you bestow upon it?
- Read autobiographies/biographies: Delve into autobiographies and biographies to learn that every extraordinary path is paved with either pain or the lessons learned from the mistakes of great minds. Given our limited lifespans, we simply don’t have enough time to make every mistake ourselves and glean wisdom from them.
- If you knew the price of a particular error, would you still dare to commit it?
- Read self-help books: Self-help books offer a wealth of skills, often refined by authors over a lifetime of experience. They can also provide the solace you may be searching for within yourself.
- If you had the chance to offer guidance to your ten-year-old self, what book would you pen?
- Read non-fiction books: Non-fiction books broaden your understanding of truth by presenting diverse perspectives and allowing you to explore historical events, scientific phenomena, and social analyses. It’s not merely about accumulating facts but about gaining a deeper comprehension of the world and your role within it.
- If you truly understood the significance of critical thinking, what steps would you take to cultivate it?
When you next have a moment to fill, why not reach for a book?
You don’t need a brush with death to grasp the value of life, nor do you need to endure hardship to understand the complexities of human nature.
Even if you’re fortunate enough to lead a relatively smooth life, books can prepare you for potential hardships or foster empathy for the challenges others face.
If you’re burdened by unspoken pain, books can provide strength and solace from the wisdom of those who have navigated similar experiences.
Reading books may not make you more valuable, but it’s the cheapest way to enrich your life with experiences.
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