It’s early morning June 6, 2025, and I’m reflecting on my memories of my coach Jay since his passing yesterday occupies most of my thoughts at present.
While sipping my coffee, I’m also thinking about how grateful I am for my mother, who died in 2007. She was a voracious reader and her example lit a fire in me that’s never gone out. On LivinBestLife.com, I often talk about chasing what brings joy, and for me, reading is right up there with motorcycling, skiing or grilling with friends. It’s shaped my personal development in ways I can’t overstate, and I want to share why it matters so much.
Mom always had a book in her hand, whether she was waiting for us kids or winding down after a long day on our Indiana farm. Watching her lose herself in those pages made reading feel like an adventure, not a chore. It stuck with me, even when I struggled early on. I’ll never forget my “reading lab” teacher in school—ironically, the mother of a classmate who married one of my childhood friends. She used this device with a mirror and light to train my eyes to move faster across the page. Looking back, I wonder if comprehension even factored in, but it worked—I got faster, and soon I was devouring books like Mom did.
That friend, by the way, goes way back. Her family helped us start our sheep farm when I was about 8, and she was a school year older. Last July, in 2024, we took a motorcycle trip together to upstate New York, cruising through open roads with the wind in our faces. As we rode, I couldn’t help but think about how those early days—her family’s support, my reading lab experiences – set me on a path to where I am now. Reading opened my mind to new ideas, resilience, and balance, core values I live by.
I recently read a quote (something to the effect) that reading allows us to live hundreds or thousands of lives during our single life.
Profound way of thinking about it, actually!
Reading isn’t just about stories—it’s about growth. It builds empathy, sharpens your mind, and lets you travel without leaving your chair. Books have been my mentors when I couldn’t find one in person, teaching me to live with purpose and joy.
Reading’s a habit that’s fueled my journey, from those farm days to now, chasing my best life. It’s a gift I’m passing to my kids, just like Mom did for me.
The Adventures Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn were two books that had an impact on me in my early youth.
What books have shaped your path?
Drop your favorites in the comments—I’d love to build a reading list with my tribe.
Let’s keep growing together, one page at a time!
Keep reading,
Brian
