{from tinywhitedaisies via Pinterest}
When life gets a little too crazy, I rely even more than I normally do on quotations like “bird by bird” to get through the day. (I’m a bit of a quotation junkie.) I like how a good quote can take a big, abstract concept like happiness and boil it down into something meaningful. And quotes remind you that at least one other person in the world understands how you feel.
I’m not necessarily a fan of posters that offer a ton of advice all at once. You know the kind I’m talking about? They make my head spin with their tiny print urging you to “dance, sing, create, travel more, fly, soar, clean the carpets, dream, envision,” etc. But I like the “How to Really Love a Child” poster that I saw on Pinterest today. There’s no job description for parents, but if there were I’d want it to look like this. Especially the parts about reading books out loud with joy and keeping the gleam in your eye. I can handle that. (Usually.)
I’ve actually been reflecting on a quote from Bird by Bird (which I’ve almost finished). “We’re bugs struggling in the river, brightly visible to the trout below. With that fact in mind, people like me make up rules to give us the illusion that we are in charge. I need to say to myself, they’re not needed, hon. Just take in the buggy pleasures. Be kind to others, grab the fleck of riverweed, notice how beautifully your buggy legs scull.”
I’d forgotten about that! Ms. Lamott has a way with words, doesn’t she? I often have moments of wondering who’s driving this thing, but you’re right, it’s much better to focus on enjoying the ride.