‘A friend in need is a friend indeed.’ Clichéd but true.
Everyone wants friendships they can cherish for life. At every stage of life there are people we meet and connect with, but not all stick with us through the years. As we grow, travel new roads, old friends are left behind and new ones hold our hand. But there are friends you long to be with long after they are gone. There are friendships that go sour because of circumstances beyond your control. And all you can do is mourn that loss.
But there is a friendship that will last a lifetime - the one you forge with books. Every time you open a book it will open up a new world of experiences, of happiness for you. It can make you laugh and cry at the same time, but it will never fight with you. It will never leave your side until you ask it to. A book is that friend who assuages your loneliness, brings a smile to your face when you are feeling low. It will entertain you, keep you company on rainy days, during heartbreaks and look at you quietly from a distance when you celebrate. A book is a friend who demands nothing from you, but gives you everything every time you ask for it.
And if you can befriend travelling, then you have got yourself a great combo. In fact, St. Augustine compares travelling to books and says, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” Not only does travelling add dimensions to your life and expand your repertoire, it is a great way to find yourself. Just as immersing yourself in a book can help you discover yourself anew, travelling will as well. Reading on a vacation can be one of the most relaxing experiences, and both readers and travelers alike will vouch for it. Unwinding with a book on a beach is probably one of the most beautiful dreams for a reader.
So befriend a book today and you will never find yourself alone again.