I'm 24 and for some reason, I just needed to hear this. Yes, I draw and write stories and write in journals, but when I was younger, when I wasn't writing a story with my childhood best friend, I was reading for hours. I haven't done that in a while, despite me being an English major. Sure I read for school and work, but I haven't done it for myself. I guess I am trying to say this is my wake-up call to get offline and go read that huge stack of books I have near my bed. Thanks, OP for this, and I am so glad books have helped your mental health and have helped you become a better person.