A Love for Reading That Was Always in My Blood

Looking back, I think my love for reading was always there. It just took me a little longer to make room for it.

My mom is an avid reader, although that almost feels too small a description for her. She can finish an entire book in one day. Since I was little, I remember her with a book nearby, always reading something. Spanish is her first language, but she reads in both Spanish and English, and I have always admired her intelligence and love for learning.

Several of her sisters are the same way. Books have always been part of our family, and both of my sisters are big readers, too. I enjoyed reading, but for a long time, I wasn’t the person who finished one book and immediately reached for another.

That changed around 2020.

I was going through a difficult season and having panic attacks more often. One day, I had to pull over because the panic felt overwhelming. I called my older sister, and during our conversation, she encouraged me to find something that would give my mind a break.

“Why don’t you read?” she asked. “Grab a book, put everything else aside for a little while, and get lost in the story.”

It sounds like such a simple suggestion, but it stayed with me. I picked up a book, and I haven’t stopped reading since.

Reading became my time for myself. A chance to quiet some of the thoughts running through my head and step away from everything asking for my attention. For a little while, I could follow someone else’s story instead of trying to figure out every part of my own.

Today, I love getting lost in a good book. I love the suspense, the characters, and those moments when I have to call my sisters because we need to talk about what just happened.

As I share my own stories through Cielo Co. Books, I carry that love with me. I know what it feels like to find comfort, excitement, or a little breathing room between the pages. It makes sharing books with others even more meaningful.

My mom showed me a lifetime of loving books. My sister helped me find my way into them when I needed it most. And somewhere along the way, reading became a part of me, too.

Belén Larios