"If you cultivate a healthy poverty and simplicity, so that finding a penny will literally make your day, then, since the world is in fact planted with pennies, you have with your poverty bought a lifetime of days. It's that simple. What you see is what you get."
--Annie Dillard
How we use our time and opportunities has a great deal to do with how we perceive them. Make a meal of every crumb of time. Use it. Treasure it. Own this belief when tackling any WIP or life in general. MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TIME!!!!!!!
Dramatic? I have to be when reminding myself of important lessons I am stubborn learning. Let's see if we can all do better.
Just a quote that needed repeating (for me).
I was thinking something similar as I was in a darkened movie theater this afternoon, watching the trailer for EAT, PRAY, LOVE. The heroine felt she had to go all around the world to see truth when she was missing it right in front of her.
ReplyDeleteImagine how someone from Bosnia would see life around us if they walked beside us. How different and wonderful everything would seem to them.
Perhaps we can gather our imaginations and see the world through the eyes of someone who has been given so little of what we take for granted.
You're right. You always have a thought-provoking, interesting post, Roland
We get complacent, lulled into a false sense of security and control, then we become numb to a variety of things around us. It's one of the reasons people cut themselves...it's the only way they feel again. If we could learn to 'see' and be aware, maybe we could feel the sharp perception that comes when we face loss or endure great pain, and every moment would be seen, felt, experienced to the fullest...is it possible?
ReplyDeleteThe joy or pain we feel is measured by our perception of them. Nature (what we can not control) goes only so far. The rest is up to us.
ReplyDeleteRoland, walking in others shoes is what writers do (or should do). I did so when I worked in the MH field. I regret a few things in the time I have lived, but I will never regret my time doing that job. It humbles you and reminds you how lucky you are even when it's little that you have. Thanks for stoping by. Napoli says hi to Gypsy!
And Words Crafter, complacency is a early death. And I do not know if what you ask is possible for everyone. We are all geared to feel as much or as little as we are able. The rest is baby steps. Even I, the empathic people watcher, can distance myself a little too well from hurt and happy.
Such a thought provoking post. Thanks for sharing that.
ReplyDeleteGreat thoughts! Imagine a penny making your day - simple pleasures!
ReplyDeleteThis was such a great post!!! Great thoughts! I'm with Susan, the simple pleasures in life!!!
ReplyDeleteI saw that you were joining in on the fun for DL Hammons blog fest, and I've decided to test out my skills and see how well I could do whipping one up, feel free to stop by and see if it's something you'd want to join in on!
I like to believe that there would be a whole lot less pissed off people in the world if they could just grasp the above quote.
ReplyDeleteAnd Jen, I would love to! I will be signing up and advertising your blogfest soon. Thank you for mentioning it. It sounds like something up my alley.
Thanks for stopping by guys!!!