I'm Glad I Can Read

by Marie Vonow (follow)

Gratitude (133)      Communication (122)      Reading (15)      Information (5)      Safety (5)      Letters (3)     

I am so glad I learnt to read. It is another thing to feel gratitude for. Reading helps keep me safe, enables me to access information and brings joy and laughter into my life. There are many ways I use the skill of reading on an average day.

There was a time when I would have glanced at the newspaper over breakfast and perhaps grabbed a section to read on the train to work. I rarely buy newspapers these days although I sometimes pick up a free paper when I am out and about. A free local paper is delivered weekly and I will look through that.

If I'm not sure what I have committed myself to for the day I will check my diary. Ah, I have the morning free but have agreed to meet a friend in the city at 1pm for lunch.

It won't be long before I turn on my laptop and take a look at something on the internet. I may check the weather forecast, especially as I am going out. Should I take an umbrella? Perhaps I look at the news or check my emails, deleting the unsolicited ones.

I may write an article or do some research for one. When I research I will jot some notes to refer to later. All the time I am reading.

Some time during the morning I will check the letterbox. These days I get fewer chatty letters in the post but I do have cousins and a couple of friends who correspond this way. It's a lucky day. I have a letter from one of my cousins. Time for a cuppa as I enjoy holding paper thoughtfully decorated with stickers or pictures. I read what has been happening in my cousin's life.


My mobile phone indicates a text has come in. I read the message and respond. Then I note the coffee catch up arrangement for next week in my diary.

Later in the day I head off to the railway station after checking the train timetable. Today my train is leaving from platform 2 so I have to cross the tracks. I note the warning sign before I walk across.


On the train I enjoy reading the novel borrowed from the library. From time to time I look out the window and read the name of the station we are stopping at.

I finish my book just before we pull into Adelaide railway station. I must borrow more books by this author.

Once at the station I set off for the cafe. We haven't tried this one before so I have to take note of the street names and once on the correct street I look at the numbers and the shop names. On my way I read all sorts of notices, shop names and signs. I laugh at the words written on a chalkboard.


I meet my friend and we read the menu to decide what to order. It is an enjoyable lunch and great conversation. My friends lends me a book of quotes she thinks I will appreciate.

We part and I do some window shopping. I pick up a free magazine to read on the train home.

Back at the station I look at the illuminated boards showing which platform trains are leaving from and time of departure. Ah, mine is leaving from platform 8. At the platform I see there are two trains lined up. Mine is leaving from the further end of the platform. Lucky I can read or I might have hopped on the closer one and ended up heading in the wrong direction.

I arrive home and decide to try a new recipe for tea. I read through the recipe to check I have all the ingredients and then get busy. Yes, that was nice. I will cook that again.

After tea I walk the dog in the nearby park near the river. I notice a new sign has been erected with information about the history of the local area.

I spend the rest of the evening on my laptop, reading articles. At bedtime I open a new novel and enjoy reading about a different world. I am glad I can read.



# Communication
# Gratitude
# Information
# Letters
# Reading
# Safety

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