Do you mind even a little that you are still addicted to people-pleasing, and are still putting everyone elseโs needs and laundry and career ahead of your creative, spiritual life? Giving all your life force away, to โhelpโ and impress. Well, your help is not helpful, and falls short.
Anne LamottAnd she is going to dance, dance hungry, dance full, dance each cold astonishing moment, now when she is young and again when she is old.
Anne LamottPeace is joy at rest. Joy is peace on its feet. quoting her pastor in Salon, April 25, 2003
Anne LamottIf something inside of you is real, we will probably find it interesting, and it will probably be universal. So you must risk placing real emotion at the center of your work. Write straight into the emotional center of things. Write toward vulnerability. Risk being unliked. Tell the truth as you understand it. If youโre a writer you have a moral obligation to do this. And it is a revolutionary actโtruth is always subversive.
Anne LamottI've seen prayers answered. But often, in my experiences, if you get what you pray for, you've really shortchanged yourself.
Anne LamottI was reminded of the Four Immutable Laws of the Spirit: Whoever is present are the right people. Whenever it begins is the right time. Whatever happens is the only thing that could have happened. And when it's over, it's over.
Anne LamottI still encourage anyone who feels at all compelled to write to do so. I just try to warn people who hope to get published that publication is not all it is cracked up to be. But writing is. Writing has so much to give, so much to teach, so many surprises. That thing you had to force yourself to do - the actual act of writing - turns out to be the best part. It's like discovering that while you thought you needed the tea ceremony for the caffeine, what you really needed was the tea ceremony. The act of writing turns out to be its own reward.
Anne Lamott