Hello everyone :)!
Whenever I’m walking down Ilica (the longest street in Zagreb), something new always catches my eyes and makes me stop & smile🥹. And no, it’s not a store with the latest stuff or some wild street performer playing Despacito (yup.. we have that too😭) on a saxophone (although… respect). This time it was this little TV screen that someone covered with a piece of paper that just says: “Read a book.” That’s it. No extra words, just that one simple simple sentence that somehow feels like a slap in the face and a warm hug at the same time.
It made me chuckle.. but also? It really stuck with me.
It’s such a simple message, but in a world where everyone’s glued to their phone screens (and yes, the irony is not lost lol I took the picture with a phone too), this message really stands out. Where we’re seeing negativity every day, sad, heartbreaking news and such this is really a good message! And the fact that it’s taped to a television? Poetic asf. Like someone said, “Since internet won’t tell you here’s your sign to use your brain a bit.” I love it lol. it feels like a little act of rebellion against algorithms(?)
And it’s right. Reading a book is probably one of the healthiest escapes we have left. Especially today — when everything feels loud, fast, and toxic. Such an overstimulating digital world..😞. We scroll endlessly, feed ourselves drama, bad news, unrealistic standards and our attention spans are practically fried. Aand then wonder why our heads feel like just like static. But books? They slow you down. They make you think and offer something else entirely. They challenge us, make us feel, help us escape, or sometimes bring us closer to truths we didn’t even know we needed🤷🏼♀️. And unlike a TikTok reel, they don’t disappear in 15 seconds ;). They stay with you!!!. They pull you into a whole other world where no one’s live streaming their GRWM (get ready with me) or fighting in a comment section….
I’ve noticed people that read books frequently have a lot bigger vocabulary and they convey their feelings a lot better, unlike those that are always on TikTok and use words like “skibidi toilet, sigma, brainrot (real tho lmao😭), ballerina cappuccina” and such🤣.
I said I took the photo with a phone but now that I’m writing this it made me think… 🤔, maybe the point isn’t to ditch our phones completely, but to remember that they’re not the only thing out there? That there’s happiness beyond a screen. We don’t have to be glued to them all the time. There are better ways to spend a quiet evening. Like getting lost in a story, going to the theater, learning something new, or feeling something real through someone else’s words❤️.
Reading a book lights up the imagination in ways screens just can’t and never will. sure you can always read a book over your phone or kindle but it’s just not the same, don’t you agree😄? It makes you think, not react ;). And I think that’s something we DESPERATELY need more of!!
Books have always been that safe space for me. A way to escape, reset, or just feel less alone. When you just HAVE TO finish that last chapter and find out how does the book end. That kind of joy is rare these days and again, we need more of it!
So, the next time you’re walking down Ilica and you see that little note stuck to the screen, take it as a sign. Go read a book. Any book. Even if it’s just a few pages. Give your brain a break. Let your imagination breathe🧘🏻♀️
Trust me, the algorithm will survive without you for an hour or two and that break will be beneficial to you🫶🏻
I hope you enjoyed reading this post. Thank you for upvoting, reblogging & commenting. It is greatly appreciated :)❤️!
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