Words

Lately I've been wavering my posts from the usual fashion related ideas that my blog was intended for. As much as I love fashion, and I can assure that it is much, sometimes it is not entirely satisfying only writing about fashion. Don't get me wrong, fashion is not as fickle as the world tries to make it out to be; there's a quote that Blair Waldorf on Gossip Girl once said which was "fashion is the most powerful art there is. It's movement, design and architecture all in one. It shows the world who we are and who we'd like to be." Now, I agree with Blair on this; art and fashion are the same thing in my eyes, despite the fact that art is celebrated for being classic and wonderful whereas fashion is criticised for being fickle and materialistic. However, I believe that Blair's speech also applies to the power of words.

I've always loved reading, even from a young age- I know I know, a blogger/wannabe writer who loves to read, such a surprise, right? Without meaning to sound cliché or cringey, my free time pretty much orientated around reading from about the age of 7 until about 14. Then for the last 2 years there's been a lull in my incessant reading, as I discovered more "teenagery" things to do with my time, but also because I couldn't find a new book that would grasp me the way anything else had. Then I became more technology dependent and spent any bored minutes checking my Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tumblr (need I go on...) and something that I had once loved to do, and had spent many happy hours doing, became something I no longer cared about. But as I've just started my half term in between exams, and found that I actually have quite a few free hours to spare, I decided to re read some of my old favourites. I quickly realised that I had completely forgotten the impact books could have on me and how they can make you feel reading them- unfortunately I'll just have to allow myself to sound cringey, apologies.

There's something about the way clever writers place their words, the way they can conjure an image in your mind, the way they personify a character so well that you feel like you actually know them, there is something about all of these things that makes me believe that writers, stories and words are all undervalued. If you think about what a published story really is, it is the writer completely exposing their imagination and thoughts to the world, making themselves vulnerable and ready to embrace judgement. Then think about what the writer is doing for you by exposing themselves in this way; you're given an opportunity to escape to an entirely different world for at least a few hours a day. Sure, you could argue that films are like this in a way, but it's not really the same because films are over all too quickly, and you don't get to mould the images to fit your own imagination with a film, like you can with a book. Books can drag you from a dull day into a thrilling, action-packed world within seconds, and allow you to escape into a world of fantasy, magic, romance or mystery, all in your own home. So in my own long-winded, klutzy and rambling way I just wanted to make amends for giving into technology and social media, just like the rest of the world, and neglecting an old hobby; I shouldn't have so easily forgotten how powerful words can be, and how much I once enjoyed and depended on them.

Maybe this post will make you all think of some old hobbies you had, that you don't give the time or effort for anymore.