As serious writers and readers, we need to destigmatize non-writing and non-reading. Lots of people who live full, rich lives choose not to read. Some people could not pursue an education past gr. 10. Some people have reading disabilities. Audiobooks don't work for everyone.

Folks have day jobs, making a living for their partner, children, pets, or themselves, with integrity. Everyone has lived a portion of the experiences we read about in fiction and theory. They insert the soul back into words, but they don't have to be readers themselves.

But everyone channels and invest those experiences differently. That's why we have so many beautiful, kind people contributing to our lives in different ways, why we have a diversity of sharing, teaching, modes of caring.

Why we have so many brilliant artists, investing their energy into different kinds of art forms. Who might read on rocks or painting, but not literary fiction. Because they don't need to or have the time for it. Reading and writing is pretty great, but it's not the holy grail.