Note: Anne Lamott is one of my favorite writers. I don't know what her ACE score is but I've read enough of her non-fiction to know it's not 0. She writes more honestly about the shameful, gut-wrenching and challenging parts of life than anyone I've read and can do so with humor. She always makes me think or laugh even when I disagree with a particular view or belief. Here's a link to her Ted Talk and a few quotes from the talk. Happy Saturday.
A few days before she turned 61, writer Anne Lamott decided to write down everything she knew for sure. She dives into the nuances of being a human who lives in a confusing, beautiful, emotional world, offering her characteristic life-affirming wisdom and humor on family, writing, the meaning of God, death and more. Here's the link:
"There is almost nothing outside of you that will help in any lasting kind of way, unless you are waiting for an organ. You can't buy, achieve or date serenity and peace of mind. This is the most horrible truth and I so resent it."
"Our help is usually not very helpful. Our help is often toxic. And help is the sunny side of control. Stop helping so much. Don't get your help and goodness all over everybody."
"You can't save, fix or rescue any of them or get anyone sober."
"While fixing and saving and trying to rescue is futile, radical self-care is quantum. And it radiates out from you into the atmosphere, like a little fresh air. It's a huge gift to the world. When people respond by saying "Well, isn't she full of herself, " 'just smile obliquely like Mona Lisa and make both of you a nice cup of tea. Being full of affection for one's goofy, self-centered, cranky, annoying self is home. It's where world peace begins."
"Every single thing that happened to you is yours and you get to tell it. If people wanted you to write more warmly about them - they should have behaved better."
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