When I started I didn't have Kindle yet, so I would just skip the words I didn't understand and try to guess it from the context. Then with every re-read of the same book I did (only the books I loved), I would learn something new. Sometimes I would realize I misunderstood it, but the characters in the book didn't care so I just re-learned and that was it 😅

Now when I have Kindle there are still sometimes words I hear for the first time and I just tap on the word and read in dictionary what it means. It makes it really easy. However, some phrases there are still unknown and I do the same as I did before - assume and then learn along the way when I see it in different contexts.

Yes.

It encouraged me to develop my own mini Goodreads in my native language, from which all sorts of skills were worked on and develped (programming, designing, content creation, etc.). I had these skills before, but working on my own project on my own had a huge impact. Not to mention all the great people I was able to meet because of it.

It encouraged me to read only in English which drastically improved my English communication skills (I was super afraid of English before and since I didn't get books I wanted in my native language I had to read in English).

It helped me go through tough times. Multiple times in my life. At last, it gave me a spark of happiness, hope, and some other feelings I was almost sure I won't ever be able to feel again.