The document describes how books have allowed the author to travel the world without leaving their home country. As a child, the author was introduced to a world beyond their own through friends who taught them to dream bigger. This led the author to read books like A Thousand Splendid Suns and The Kite Runner, which gave them insight into Afghan culture and society. Through reading, the author realized that underneath surface differences, all people desire similar things. Books provided the author with "travelling shoes" that allowed their mind to journey anywhere and gave them courage to experience new places. Now as an adult, the author's global perspective gained from reading has helped their career and made them a more well-rounded, accepting person.

2. All God’s children need travelling
shoes, Maya said to me
I was young and believing.
In those days my shoes grew smaller
while I stayed the same in my mind
She could have told me anything and
I would have believed
I was young and lively and played
the wildest
My mum thought I was picking up
the wrong things
She sealed the gates, my playing
stopped
Then I found other friends.
They were kind and gentle and larger
than life
They talked to me big and had
unbelievable dreams
They didn’t mind that I was ‘too
small’ or that I had school work
They never scolded or pulled my ear
They taught me things I wonder
today when I would have ever
learned

3. They introduced me to their world,
They showed me more seasons other
than the two I knew
They taught me to sing, and swing and
get merry like it was Christmas
everyday
Those were the happiest moments
Until I met Maya who told me that All
God’s Children Need Travelling Shoes
I was puzzled, where was I to get the
means to travel?
Then I read A Thousand Splendid
Suns & The Kite Runner by Khaled
Hosseini,
Afghanistan, Where God Only Comes
to Weep by Siba Shakib
And while my heart bled at the
suffering of a society, I realised that I
had travelled without physically
leaving my country
Books have always revealed to me a
better truth about a people, situation
or place better than being told
They have made me understand that
worldwide, everyone wants similar
things despite the color of skin or
place of birth
And it has given me the courage to
step into places I would normally not
decide to go by virtue of my birth

4. They taught me that no matter how
low my upbringing was,
I should dream lavishly and watch
the dreams come to life
Now I am all grown up, wiser and
more believing.
I have become a more rounded
person, more accepting of others, and
have a more global mindset.
Characteristics which have set me
apart at work, being in a global
consulting firm, and which has
identified me as a reliable
ambassador of the firm at client
locations
Reading has given me travelling shoes
without a passport and has improved
my general outlook to life
I do quote Maya to every listening
(and non listening ear)
All God’s children need travelling
shoes, and I hand them a book