Escape

Today’s world is a constantly changing, complicated, confusing place. Every day, we’re bombarded with old and new things to worry about and fear. The economy . . . well, that speaks for itself, the constant threat of natural disasters and terrorist attacks, disease, the crime rate, something we eat, drink or come into contact with that could cause cancer; the list goes on and on. And then, of course, there are the everyday personal problems that we all struggle with: aging parents, concerns about our children or grandchildren, issues on our jobs or now, more commonly, not being able to find a job. Health concerns, money worries . . . .

So, when I want to get away from it all and relax by watching TV or reading, I want something that will distract me from reality. I want to escape into a world that isn’t real. That’s why I’m not a fan of "reality" shows. I don’t enjoy watching real people struggle with real problems, publicizing their private lives in front of millions of viewers, exposing themselves to judgment and ridicule. I see and hear enough of the difficulties we all face as I go about my daily life.

That’s one of the reasons that I love to read (and write) fiction; it offers me escape from reality. I can travel to other places, learn new things and meet interesting people. The second that I begin to read, I’m immersed in a fictional world that may, or may not, resemble my own but it’s someone else’s world, someone who doesn’t really exist. And, when I finish a novel, I can rest assured that the author has resolved all of the characters’ major problems and tied up all the loose ends. If only it were that simple in real life!