I just finished listening to Big Magic, by Elizabeth Gilbert. Did you hear me right?
I FINISHED A BOOK!! This may be a run of the mill statement for you but this was a huge accomplishment for me. I’m the girl who’s had the same book sitting by my bed for six months.
I’ve been in a book funk for about…. um, 6 years. (That time frame seems to coincide with the age of my oldest child.)
It's not that I haven't read any books in the last 6 years but the quantity has been pitiful. I’m embarrassed about it. When current reading lists rise to the top of a group discussion, I go quiet. I look around with adoration and hang on their words, living vicariously through them.
I long to read more. Time seems to always be filled by something else (often the kids or sleep).
But, I had a nice breakthrough. I was getting bored with the podcasts I usually listen to, so I checked out a few audio books from the library.
And guess what happened? I listened to TWO books this past week. No joke. Any moments I’ve had to myself I’ve been listening. Cooking, folding laundry, grocery shopping, driving, you name it and the words have been flowing.
Big Magic as been amazing. It is a beautiful conversation where creativity and reality collide. She pulls the concept of creativity down from the clouds and gets real about incorporating it into your life. Her discussion of a “shit sandwich” completely resonated with me.
Here’s a quick excerpt:
“What’s your favorite flavor of shit sandwich?” What Manson means is that every single pursuit—no matter how wonderful and exciting and glamorous it may initially seem—comes with its own brand of shit sandwich, its own lousy side effects. As Manson writes with profound wisdom:
Read More