The world of literature and motion pictures offers an amazing opportunity to escape our everyday reality, an escapade that defies all forms of “travel ban” for individuals, families and communities during the mandatory 21-days of lockdown enforced by the government in our collective battle to stem the spread of the invisible Covid-19 virus.
In a country where the culture of reading for leisure and pleasure, reading of the written (or digitized) word has become one of the windows for people to escape their solitary confinement and restriction of movement. With almost all of the airspace and provincial and national borders on a global lockdown, the act and art of reading, offers a gateway towards defying any form of aerial or ground travel for world communities.
Through literature and motion pictures (movies), you can escape the walls of your home, leave your village or city – to travel to any destination of your choice, buoyed by the artistic tapestry of the writers or creatives.
Clinically speaking, there is no doubt that reading is not just a healthy habit to keep the imagination of the mind busy, but most importantly, reading improves your memory and concentration and also relieve stress and depression. The brain-stimulating activities from reading have shown to slow down cognitive decline for people in distress. Many psychologists have attested to the fact that “reading expands a person’s appreciation toward other life experiences the reader is not personally experiencing, especially when reading topics that are not related to that reader’s everyday job or lifestyle.”
In this protracted period of the national lockdown, it is even more important for parents and families to limit the “screen-time” that is spent by kids the screen of children on their mobile phones, televisions or digital toys like play-stations and X-Box by diverting their leisure time to active reading.
After all, child development psychologists believe that words – spoken and written – are the building blocks by which a child’s mind grows. Reading is not only essential to a child’s verbal and cognitive development, but it also teaches the child to listen, develop a new language, and communicate. Additionally, books open a child’s imagination into discovering his or her world.
So, what a better way to escape your physically confined reality than taking up reading as a new habit or hobby,” and to visit new destinations beyond your borders through the mind and imagination? The power of literature can effectively take you away from the place where you are at present – through the written words and storyline – to another place. Many books and movies are available (some for free) on many digital platforms.
Ultimately your choice of literature or movies will depend on your preferred genre and personal interest. But during these times of solitude and social disconnection, the motivational literature, biographies (https://zar.co.za/bio.htm) and movies below (and may others – can lift up your spirit and make you believe that, after all there`s hope beyond the quagmire (an awkward, complex, or hazardous situation) presented by Covid-19 virus:
Off course, those who are “lazy” to read, can easily enjoy many inspirational movies from the comfort of their homes available on Netflix, Showmax, Box Office or any online streaming platforms that are available for those who have access to data resources. Some of my favourite inspirational movies include the following:
