As a youngster, you were more likely to have your nose buried in a book than playing on a sports team.
Growing up bookish instead of sporty can shape you in fascinating ways. It’s not about pitting one against the other, but acknowledging the unique traits that each fosters.
Those who favored books over balls have some distinct characteristics. And if you’re one of them, you might recognize these nine traits.
In this article, we explore these unique traits that are often found in people who grew up reading books instead of playing sports.
Let’s get started.
1) An expansive vocabulary
The first trait that sets you apart as a bookworm is your expansive vocabulary.
Books are a treasure trove of words. And when you devour books instead of dribbling balls, you’re bound to come across a plethora of words, phrases, and expressions that aren’t used in everyday conversations.
This regular exposure to new words can significantly broaden your vocabulary, giving you the ability to express yourself more eloquently and precisely.
In fact, studies have shown that children who read more have larger vocabularies than their peers who don’t read as much. This advantage often carries over into adulthood.
If you’ve grown up reading books instead of playing sports, chances are you have an enviable vocabulary. It’s the first on our list of unique traits often found in people who favored books over sports.
2) Empathy and understanding
Books allow you to walk in someone else’s shoes, experiencing their joys, their sorrows, their dilemmas, and their triumphs. This can foster a deep sense of empathy and understanding.
Personally, I remember reading “To Kill a Mockingbird” as a kid. The story opened my eyes to the injustices and prejudices that exist in the world. It was my first real exposure to social issues and it made me more understanding and empathetic towards others’ experiences.
This is a trait I’ve noticed in many people who grew up reading books. They’re often more understanding, empathetic, and sensitive to others’ feelings and perspectives because they’ve “lived” so many different lives through the characters in their books.
3) Better writing skills
It’s no surprise that those who read more often have better writing skills. Reading exposes you to well-structured sentences, proper grammar, and various writing styles.
But did you know that reading can also improve your spelling? A study published in the Journal of Research in Reading found that reading books is directly linked to spelling proficiency.
If you grew up reading books instead of playing sports, you likely have an edge when it comes to writing and spelling.
4) Enhanced creativity
Books are a gateway to different worlds, characters, ideas, and scenarios. This constant exposure to diverse narratives and perspectives can spark creativity.
When you read, you’re not just passively consuming information. You’re visualizing the story in your mind, creating a mental movie based on the words on the page.
This act of visualization can enhance your imaginative skills and boost creativity. It’s one of the reasons why those who grew up reading books often excel in fields that require creative thinking.
5) Stronger focus and concentration
In our fast-paced, digital world, maintaining focus can be a real challenge. But for those who grew up reading books, focus and concentration might be a bit easier.
Reading is an immersive activity that requires attention to detail, memory, and concentration. Unlike watching television or scrolling through social media, it’s not something you can do passively.
This practice of focusing on a single task—reading a book—can help develop stronger concentration abilities. It’s another unique trait often found in people who favored books over sports in their youth.
6) A lifelong love of learning
Books can instill a lifelong love of learning. They expose you to different cultures, ideas, histories, and philosophies. Each page turned is an opportunity to learn something new, to question, and to grow.
This love of learning often extends beyond the pages of a book and into all aspects of life. Whether it’s a deep-dive into a historical event, learning a new language, or exploring an unfamiliar concept, this curiosity and desire to learn is a beautiful trait often found in those who grew up reading books.
It’s more than just acquiring knowledge; it’s about understanding the world around us, continually growing, and never losing that childlike wonder.
7) Valuing solitude
Reading is a solitary activity. It’s just you and the book, lost in a world of words. This often leads to a comfort in, and even a preference for, solitude.
I remember spending countless hours as a kid, huddled in my favorite reading nook, lost in the world of “Harry Potter” or “The Chronicles of Narnia”. Those quiet moments of solitude weren’t lonely. They were magical and enriching.
This comfort in solitude is something I’ve carried into adulthood. It’s not about being anti-social, but about appreciating quiet moments of reflection and the joy of one’s own company. It’s a trait I’ve noticed in many others who also grew up reading books.
8) Analytical thinking
Books, especially those with complex plots and intricate characters, require a certain level of analysis. You need to keep track of the storyline, remember details, and often make predictions about what might happen next.
This constant analysis not only enhances comprehension skills but also develops analytical thinking. It encourages you to think critically, question motives, and analyze situations.
If you grew up reading books instead of playing sports, there’s a good chance you’ve honed your analytical thinking skills through the countless stories you’ve delved into.
9) Emotional resilience
Books expose us to a range of emotions. We rejoice in characters’ victories, weep at their losses, and navigate the spectrum of human emotions through their experiences.
This emotional journey can foster emotional resilience. It teaches us that it’s okay to feel, that it’s human to experience a range of emotions. More importantly, it shows us that we can navigate these emotions, just like our favorite characters.
Growing up reading books can give you an emotional toolkit that helps you handle life’s ups and downs with grace and resilience.
Reading: A journey of self-discovery
Growing up reading books instead of playing sports shapes us in ways that are unique and profound. It’s about more than just vocabulary, writing skills, or analytical thinking. It’s about fostering empathy, valuing solitude, developing emotional resilience, and cultivating a lifelong love of learning.
Whether you’re a voracious reader or someone who occasionally picks up a book, the traits fostered by reading run deep. They shape our understanding of the world and our place in it.
So next time you pick up a book, remember that you embark on more than just a journey through its pages; you embark on a journey of self-discovery. And that, in itself, is a trait worth cherishing.
