In a world where technology is on the rise, I believe that it is more necessary than ever to remember the importance of writing and stories.

We have been telling stories since the beginning of time, and their magic and beauty did not go unseen. Yet in today’s modern world where younger generations are being drawn to the new technology we haven’t always had, it seems that the brilliance and power of stories is being lost. Why is it that if you give a child a choice between a movie or a book, chances are they would choose a movie?

Especially now when anxiety and mental health struggles are becoming more of an issue than previous years, stories become more necessary. They have the power to help readers feel seen, heard, and even heal. A tween girl might feel more heard through a story about a child just like her struggling with anxiety than she would in her closest friend group. A teen boy might feel that the stories of brave wizards and fierce dragons he reads can be an escape from reality when he needs it most.

Stories have helped me through so many hardships throughout my life. Health, friendship losses, anxiety, and everything in between.

I’m not saying that books can all of a sudden magically fix everything, but they absolutely contain values and lessons that we can benefit from today.

Don’t let the magic of books be forgotten. I believe that books and writing can speak when we cannot.