When life got hard
Hey Reader,
I've always been a hoarder. Not of things and trinkets though, but off thoughts and quotes from great writers, philosophers, poets, and just about everyone else.
Over the years, this hoard of mine has grown and I've made good use of it, especially when life got hard and I needed a helping hand. I've created lists to read in the morning and at night, little reminders of what I think is the good life, often written in my own words, rather than copied from someone else.
I thought I'd share one of these lists with you today.
- “Replenish your marrow. Have your pockets ready. Wait for the slow burn.” - Patti Smith
- “To be nobody-but-yourself - in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else - means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.” - E. E. Cummings
- Continue with gratefulness. It’s the quickest way to lasting happiness.Believe people when they say they appreciate you. Don’t tone it down, just believe them. Don’t erect walls around yourself.
- Learn to deal with rejection, it’s a part of life.
- Your life is your creation. Continue taking responsibility, do not shift blame. Enjoy the credit.
- Lightly, do everything lightly, as Huxley says. Don’t be so serious, so preposterously serious. Think of Chesterton and his line: Angels fly because they take themselves lightly.
- Your surroundings can be modified, your circumstances changed.
- Think of life in terms of yes and can. Everything else belittles the insane wonder of existence.
- Let your concern be only who you are, who you choose to be. Lightly let people be themselves.
- Be aware of your ego as you would be of a playful child - guide it lightly, but strictly until it grows up enough that it can be left alone. You’re not there yet.
- Life is not a race, don’t attempt to win, don’t attempt to win over. The moment you try to win, you have lost already.
- Your only responsibility is to show up and declare 'this is who I am'. Some will be delighted, some indifferent, some horrified. Cherish the first, lightly accept the second and third.
- The good life is contained in the dust, the dirt, the common stone. Choose happiness there and nothing will ever trouble you for long.
- What is your enough?
That's all for today.
Stay slow,
Marin
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Marin Mikulic
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