Every time I pick up a book I once read long ago,

I’m often surprised by how much I missed the first time. Sometimes it even feels like I’m reading an entirely different book. The reason isn’t just one thing. Often, when I first read it, I wasn’t truly reading—I was only looking at the words.
This isn’t true only for books. Music, too, reveals new layers when we listen again. A song played dozens or hundreds of times begins to seep into our soul. A book read over and over eventually starts speaking directly to us.
Take a moment to open a book that’s been sitting quietly on your shelf.