{"id":52371,"date":"2026-08-09T16:08:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-09T14:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maitim.si\/reading-and-writing-are-not-habits-of-the-past-they-are-skills-for-the-future\/"},"modified":"2026-08-13T15:10:07","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T13:10:07","slug":"reading-and-writing-are-not-habits-of-the-past-they-are-skills-for-the-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maitim.si\/en\/reading-and-writing-are-not-habits-of-the-past-they-are-skills-for-the-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Reading and Writing Are Not Habits of the Past \u2014 They Are Skills for the Future"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Let us start with a question that comes up quite often in today\u2019s world of books and publishing. At the current stage of technological development, is it still worth reading the written word when it contains no visual or graphic elements? Just words, printed on good old-fashioned paper?<\/p>\n

I do not merely think it is worth reading. I dare say it is essential.<\/p>\n

Why?<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s see. Perhaps to preserve the human culture that has separated us from animals and made us \u201ccivilised\u201d, as we so proudly like to tell ourselves? To preserve reason amid the flood of idiotic TikTok and other wannabe entertaining and advertising content that dulls the mind and irreversibly deepens the normalization of primitive materialism?<\/p>\n

Any other justification?<\/p>\n

Yes. How about simple, down-to-earth common sense.<\/p>\n

Surely you have been asked at some point:<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you see the film?\u201d<\/p>\n

And then came the answer:<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, but the book is a thousand times better!\u201d<\/p>\n

Well. That is why.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Paper Speaks Louder Than the Screen<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Nothing tells stories or lays bare the depths of the human inner world quite like the written word created by a creative mind.<\/p>\n

No video or film can awaken quite as many emotions in us as a book can. Between the lines of a sentence, there is an enormous amount of room for imagination.<\/p>\n

Descriptions of the main character make each of us see them slightly differently \u2026 in our own way \u2026 The same goes for descriptions of mountains, forests, capitals or a simple little seaside village. Every detail creates a new, almost tangible atmosphere in our minds, making the heart tremble. It evokes a smell, an association, a long-forgotten memory \u2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Whole Worlds Live Between the Lines!<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Video content can dull us, leave us empty, because it draws everything for us in painstaking detail, exactly as someone else saw the scene.<\/p>\n

There is little room left for our own brainwaves to do their work.<\/p>\n

The written word brings us to life. It fills us with energy and imagination. It allows us to create an inner world that we can freely walk through and explore, at our own pace and according to our own instincts and perceptions.<\/p>\n

Of course I watch television too. Films, documentaries, series \u2026 They are so technologically sophisticated that they can instantly transport you into another time and place. All those sounds, images, countless effects \u2026 I love them.<\/p>\n

But not a single piece of visual content has ever drawn me in as deeply as a book has. Not deeply enough to make me look for excuses to abandon whatever work I was doing so that I could return to the written word.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Written stories are the ones that lift us the highest. They awaken deep emotions. They awaken empathy. They awaken the human in us.<\/p>\n

Books teach us and enrich us from within. They open new horizons and new perspectives. They confront us with experiences and situations we may never have lived through ourselves. They encourage us to discover previously unknown parts of ourselves.<\/p>\n

They build mosaics<\/strong>, then tear them apart, and create entirely new images from the pieces.<\/p>\n

To me, these are the priceless \u201cabilities\u201d of books. Through them, we can contribute to the growth of this and future generations of humanity.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Some (Modern) Traps of Writing<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Where does a writer find the motivation to actually publish their creative or personal work?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Probably not in the expectation of great financial gain or financial security \u2014 the things we so eagerly pursue. It is almost impossible for everyone who loves creating with words to make a living from it. Far too many social and personal factors come into play. Statistically speaking, only a small number succeed. And even those who do nowadays need either a little luck, some financial backing from the start, or something truly exceptional, unusual, tragic, outrageous \u2026 or all of the above, seasoned with a pinch of unwavering persistence, inexhaustible energy, reckless courage and a supportive environment.<\/p>\n

But there are other, less obvious reasons too. Quieter ones. Personal ones. Hidden ones. I have been discovering some of them myself as I try to pave my professional path as a writer.<\/p>\n

I have noticed that I cannot help searching for like-minded people and approval through my words. Even though I consciously know that my views, reflections and writing cannot possibly convince everyone, subconsciously I still want to be accepted by my readers. I want to please them, and I feel that only then could I truly feel comfortable in my own skin.<\/p>\n

Human \u2026 understandable \u2026<\/p>\n

And yet.<\/p>\n

I keep wondering whether that really has to be the case, or whether I can somehow \u201creprogram\u201d myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

The Dilemma of Exposing One\u2019s Inner World to the Outside World<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Can I protect myself from negative comments and criticism enough to still live a fulfilling life? Can I transform the constant stream of negative external stimuli into lessons that do not hurt me so deeply that, one day, I start believing them myself and accepting them as truth?<\/p>\n

Well.<\/p>\n

That is my dilemma.<\/p>\n

Not necessarily anyone else\u2019s.<\/p>\n

But one thing is certainly true.<\/p>\n

A writer, even when writing fiction, reveals a small part of themselves in their work.<\/p>\n

If we want our writing to be honest and authentic, we have to draw from ourselves. From our perceptions, thoughts, knowledge, emotions and experiences of the world and the events unfolding within it.
\nPutting our \u201cnaked\u201d selves on a plate and serving ourselves to this bloodthirsty, thoughtless and judgmental society is quite a courageous act, isn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n

Think about it.<\/p>\n

If you are actively present on social media, if you do not remain silent and you speak openly about social issues, how many times have you shared an inspiration, a wish, a thought, a personal story \u2014 only to receive misunderstanding in return?<\/p>\n

At least from some unknown person hiding behind a made-up, devious profile?<\/p>\n

Perhaps a nasty, intolerant comment? Accusations, slander, verbal aggression?<\/p>\n

Even though all you wanted to do was offer something positive, something to think about, without directly attacking anyone.<\/p>\n

Or perhaps you know someone to whom this happens.<\/p>\n

And even if you have wisely distanced yourself from social media, how many times have you been criticised or talked about \u2014 openly or behind your back \u2014 by people you know in some way, but do not really know? And they know you even less.<\/p>\n

And if you are completely honest with yourself, do you really not care at all?<\/p>\n

Can you make everything negative that is said about you simply pass you by?
\nBecause even if it passes you by, it inevitably passes through you first.<\/p>\n

Does it leave something behind? Somewhere deep inside, almost imperceptibly, does it gnaw at you?<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Unfounded Judgement & Prejudice \u2014 A Constant of an (Immature) Society<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

I admit it.<\/p>\n

I have never learned how to deal effectively with other people\u2019s unfounded, openly expressed intolerance towards me. Perhaps because I am not someone who hides behind my mistakes. I admit them. And I have no difficulty apologising. That is why I find it so difficult to deal with the fact that some people simply do not do the same. That so many never stop \u2026 They never look inward. They never look beyond stereotypes and prejudice. They do not know how to truly listen to anyone.<\/p>\n

It stresses me out.<\/strong><\/p>\n

When someone is intolerant towards me, I am immediately overwhelmed by a lead-heavy sense of threat. My defence mechanism kicks in, and it is mostly not an extroverted one. I cannot simply \u201cexplode\u201d back at them uncontrollably \u2026 Well, except every now and then \ud83d\ude09.<\/p>\n

More often, it takes the form of nervous silence, overthinking and caution. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but I have noticed that over time it increasingly deepens my disappointment in humanity \u2014 and in myself. So I retreat into my inner world. I feel detached, as if I do not belong on this planet, and I find it increasingly difficult to share my inner experiences with others. Past experiences of feeling hurt and misunderstood have cut deep, and I allowed them to push me to the margins.<\/p>\n

The fear of rejection and intolerance has become greater than the fear of loneliness.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

The Weight of \u201cForced\u201d Silence<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Do you know that feeling when you want to express yourself, but one obstacle after another stops you? When you want to say something out loud, but you fall silent<\/strong>. Or perhaps you even nod slightly \u2026 agreeing with something you actually disagree with.<\/p>\n

For the sake of peace.<\/p>\n

Because in that moment, you do not feel capable of \u201cfighting\u201d with the person in front of you. Maybe you cannot find the right words, and you already suspect that you would lose the verbal battle.<\/p>\n

And then a little voice whispers:<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s pointless. Let it go.\u201d<\/p>\n

And later you catch yourself burning inside.
\nThe dialogue that should have happened out loud now takes place inside your head. You repeat the words you wanted to say. You imagine the words that might have been thrown back at you. You turn over and over what should have been said, what should not have been said, what would have been right \u2026<\/p>\n

Again and again.<\/p>\n

And there seems to be no end to it.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t