I have some of the most thoughtful, kind friends. You know those kind that make you want to be more thoughtful and kind? I keep those kind close. I know they make my spirit rest. My friend Molly is the type of friend to whom I look for wisdom. I’m often humbled by how insightful she is, how she holds the life knowledge of someone years our senior. Molly lives in Atlanta, so when I received a little letter in the mailbox in her handwriting, I knew there would be something to treasure inside. I saved it until I had a moment to myself, cup of coffee in hand, to read. True to her character, Molly did not disappoint. One quote she had written in her letter (she said it reminded her of me. Thanks, Molls!) has stuck with me, so I’ll share it here.
Writing and reading decrease our sense of isolation. They deepen and widen and expand our sense of life: they feed the soul. When writers make us shake our heads with the exactness of their prose and their truths, and even make us laugh about ourselves or life, our buoyancy is restored. We are given a shot at dancing with, or at least clapping along with, the absurdity of life, instead of being squashed by it over and over again. It’s like singing on a boat during a terrible storm at sea. You can’t stop the raging storm, but singing can change the hearts and spirits of the people who are together on that ship.
Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
I mean, wow. I don’t think I have anything to add to that, so I’ll leave you with Lamott.
