Deep Thoughts ~ Can reading save your life?

I'm not sure if reading saved my life as a child or just made it more bearable. I had a rather difficult childhood and it's tempting to just remember the challenges, but I also have to be thankful for the blessings I received - one of which was a family that loved to read. I'm pretty sure every member of my family as dysfunctional as it was loved to read.

I have so many great memories of great books I read as a child. How many people can relate to having their little night light or flashlight under the covers with their ears listening for footsteps so they could quickly turn out the light before they were caught reading? I'm sure many parents/teachers would love to "catch" their kids/students reading now!

My early successes in school were related to reading and writing. I was in the top reader group in grade 1. I had one of my stories read out to the class in grade 4 (one of my best elementary school memories for sure). I loved loved loved it when my teachers read aloud to us - especially Mrs. English in grade 4 - she was awesome at it. I had three years of correspondence at home (grade 5 to 7) and truly reading made it tolerable. Even later in life when I went back to school for six years to get my teaching degree - I was anxious to read for fun at the end of every semester.

Now I am two years into teaching. Although I don't have a full-time teaching job, I have relished the time I have to read for both professional and pleasure purposes. I see at the myriad of schools that I have been to from kindergarten to grade 12 that overall there is a sad lack of passion or even remote interest in reading. It breaks my heart when I think of what a lifeline reading has been for me. Every now and then I go into a school that sparks a little hope that maybe the art and fun of reading hasn't yet died out for kids today. My hope is to keeping fanning those tiny embers and maybe, just maybe I can help fan the flames into a lovely warm fire that spreads.

My question to you is... How has reading saved or made a big impact on your life? Do tell...