It doesn’t matter if the book is from our own favorite author or simply a worldwide best-seller, nothing really sways us to finally flip that page of paper or even touch it when you're experiencing reading slump.

Reading and flipping those pages almost felt like forcefully running a marathon without ever learning how to run – it’s simply dreadful. But once you pass that stage when you simply don’t care, it becomes enjoyable once again.

This time around @oluchi31 is the inspiration behind this post. She was talking about a book that almost sent her into a reading slump. That post just reminded me of how for the longest time these past few months have been my reading and writing slump until I read a few pieces that truly feels home.

It all started a while back when I was reorganizing my work area, desk and storage. I found my collections, some prized possession of mine that made me remember how far I’ve gotten in life.

You see, most of us think of cars, home,or that expensive stuff that you could finally purchase to remind how far you've gotten in life. For me, it’s these magazines.

Back in the day a magazine like this would have cost like $15 and when I was 18, all I could do was just stare at it, hoping one day I could get the chance to have a copy. I read some piece of it from friends who owned these copies and you can never doubt its qualities.

Long story short, when I could finally get copies of these, I was greedy. I grabbed a bunch of it only to end up as some dusty collectibles. Who knows, in times of despair like these days, they are one of the things that truly saved me.

There was one issue that caught my attention the most, August 2019 which was covering mass migration with an in-depth essay called “We Are All Migrants” by Mohsin Hamid and “Walking With Migrant” by Paul Salopek which includes an outstanding photography of his experience traversing through different lands tracing how human used to migrate.

“We move when it is intolerable to stay where we are…”⸺ Mohsin hamid.

As much as it was written almost 6 years ago, it becomes even more relatable these past two years. In this chaotic world order, by our nature, we want to survive. We want to seek opportunities and even an environment that is better suited for us than our original homes, wherever it might be. That’s what Hamid wrote in his essay and his take on this mass migration.

Hamid has a way with words that was so moving. It was an easy read yet so electrifying. Through his in-depth essay, I was motivated to be a better storyteller. He fixes my yearning not only to read a good essay but also learning more to be someone who’s careful with words.

A Real Life Sean O’Connel

Other than Hamid, Paul Salopek is like that character from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty called Sean, a free-spirited photographer wandering around the globe seeking an image that speaks more than a thousand words. Unlike Sean, Salopek is an actual person, an American Journalist and writer whose beginnings were as intriguing as its fictional counterpart.

Back in 2013, he started a walking journey retracing the migration of our species. He was documenting everything including his walk traversing Africa and a huge part of Asia, walking alongside migrant struggle, fears and hope.In his travelogue, you will learn a lot about human and humanity.

This in-depth travelogue was written as if you’re wandering about with him and that was something so captivating. Not only it moved me, I was on the same pathway as he was, only we covered different issues.

Perhaps, nobody really reads these days but as condensed as the paragraph of his, you will never miss a word. It is read, inked and you will not forget the journey you just had. Reading his piece was as if you’re really traveling through it.

I remember my long-life project of tracing all the temples that have ever existed sometime in the 5-9th century. This has led me to explore places I wouldn’t have been nor countries I wouldn’t have. Unlike Salope, I was more interested in how our ancestors could produce such an intelligent architecture which could last centuries and sustain various natural disasters. All that experience and stories I’ve gathered have only opened more doors to explore.

It has been about 2 years since I forgot all about it but through that travelogue, it introduces something familiar to my life. A mission that I used to do and need to continue, maybe it won’t have mass appeal or value but that simple thing itches my curiosity. If money was never an issue and limitless, that is the project I would do.

Something familiar that brought joy...

Think about the ancient civilization of Ayutthaya to ancient Khmer and even way back to Inca, where it all might start and spread through some of these archipelagic nations.

Interestingly, when you trace those temples, you’d find coffee simultaneously grown in the area. So, it’s like truly hitting the jackpot, at least for me.

Perhaps nobody reads magazines these days but even if these written posts are known as “content” these days, aspiring to write like these seasoned and awesome journalists can be a lesson itself. Be a better storyteller and write with intention.

With that said, this issue has really fixed all the slump in my life and motivated me to write again.I know, you might have some books or stories, like that.

So, what’s your go-to reads when you’re in the slump?