Spring is time of snuggling and cuddling. Time when everybody stops hibernating and starts looking for people who share their views, emotions, jokes and beliefs, everyone wants to meet old friends and make new ones. How reading can help? Well, in many ways actually.

Firstly, fiction helps you empathize. Want to understand what your friends are going through? Read more fiction. A study from the University of Buffalo found that reading fiction improves people's empathy: the more time you spend putting yourself in a fictional character's shoes, the better you are at understanding the non-fictional people in your life.

Secondly, reading reduces your stress levels, making you a more relaxed person. Being less stressed is probably the most effective way to be a better friend, partner, and family member.

Thirdly, the more you read, the more you learn, and the more people you can find common ground with. You'll feel comfortable speaking up about more subjects rather than speaking about spring weather again. Let’s better speak about the newest literature or the changes that our Barona Street bookshop is going through. I wonder how it will look like when it opens...

Fourthly, the process of reading actually trains your brain to record more memories—and we all know that a lot of relationship tensions come down to a faulty memory. So – let’s read.

Fifthly, reading strengthens your attention and concentration. And we all know that it is very important to hear the person who is talking to us especially now when modern technologies have started to replace real conversations.

I named only some of the ways how reading helps to improve your relationships. There are more, for example, imagination is also very important in your relationships as it makes them brighter and less boring.

So please do your best to take care of your relationships and enjoy the spring and good literature.

Love,
Leo