Walking Home

They say that the best way to save is not to buy anything at all! Yeah right! But if there was one thing I really couldn’t resist, it’s a good book.

At a mall one day, I found myself browsing books at a bargain bookstore. It was one of those bookstands offering old and new books for more than half the price. I was adamant not to buy any books that day. I already have a lengthy reading list starting with some books I acquired a week ago. To prove to myself that I could resist the temptation, I only brought enough money for my fare.

Apparently, the planets must have aligned together that day or I must have trampled a fallen star or something.

I found this book. It was old, thin and worn. Pages are still intact. Other than its age, it was still in good form. I struggled within myself if I should buy it. Prior to that, I have read the reviews online, talked to people who have read the book and even read about a person who read the book. All angles showed positive feedback. Yet I only have 50 pesos on my pocket. The book costs 45 pesos and my fare costs 7 pesos. If I didn’t buy that book, I wouldn’t see it again. It always happens in a bargain bookstore.

I tried to move to another bookstore. I saw a newer and updated edition of the book. It costs 850 pesos. Now I really need to buy that book. It was one of those spur of the moment decisions. I went back to the bargain bookstore and bought the 45 peso book. Then, I walked home – more than 3 kilometers walk.

That decision was a good one. I even collected the entire books by the same author (from the bargain stores of course!). It helped me refresh my perspective on the things I do. “All I Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten” really refreshes your perspective on things.

But that’s just one book. I have many others that have similar stories which end with me taking the long hike back home. Come to think of it, I have been spending all of my daily allowance for a book since grade school.

I remember once when a high school classmate found me in a bargain bookstore. I guess I was so engrossed with a certain book that I didn’t notice him. He suddenly slapped my shoulders and blurted out “Worthy! Hanggang ngayon nagbabasa ka pa rin?” (“until now, you’re still reading?”) I was taken by surprise by the slap, but I really wanted to slap him back after that remark. Eventually, I figured that he probably lost his ability to read hence the remark. Poor soul!

Another friend also told me to try and reinvent myself and do away with reading. Apparently, our definition of reinventing our selves is like north and south. She stuffed herself with fashion and fads, I stuffed myself with information, inspiration and innovations.

If you still don’t get my drift here are some of the reasons I read books. (it’s in any order)

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You can travel places without leaving home. Whether real places like France, Italy, Ancient Israel, just down south of the Philippines or somewhere inside our minds like Narnia, or the Hundred-Acre Wood, reading books makes you travel to these places and still stay inside your bedroom. Since grade school, I have used books to visit places real and not so real. It helps you learn the culture of various places if you planned to go in any of those real places. With the imaginary, you get to figure out what made it imaginary.

·         You can get a guide in life. For the record, only one book has been able to guide me through though situations in life. So far, it hasn’t failed me, so I would still recommend the Bible when it comes to guidance. It has helped me through social studies, science and even history when I was still studying. It also helped me learn grammar, syntax and semantics when I write. It’s practically an all-around book. Well, it’s not called the Book of all books for nothing, right? But that’s what reading gives me, it guides me with my life and has given me the most sound advices I could ever get from anyone else.

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You get tons of information and ideas. Since books offer doorways to various places, you’d be surprised at how much information it could give you. It would offer you knowledge valuable especially if you deal with different kinds of people. El FIlibusterismo and Noli Me Tanger gives you the things that people do and have during the Spanish era. Without Seeing The Dawn, tells you a lot about the Japanese occupation in the Philippines and the Philippine liberation during the second World War. Sickeningly Sweet tells of the dangers of too much sugar intake. These and more give you valuable information that you could use in life one way or another.

·         You get entertained. Ever tried talking to a friend all night until the next morning? It’s the same thing with books. As you read, you laugh along the quips of the author. You smile over those witty things he has noticed in everyday life. Try reading Fulghum’s works and you’ll find the entertainment that would make you laugh and ponder upon the quirks of life.

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You get a fresh perspective. Most of the things that I write about are influenced largely by books. The style with which I form words, the topics that I write about, and the ideas and stand that I propose are mostly influenced by books. For me, continuously reading books offers you new perspective that could influence any output.

Those are the general things that came into my head. As you would notice there’s more, feel free to comment on these if there are things you think I have forgotten. Meanwhile, it’s time to go bargain book hunting.