It’s dark because you are trying too hard. Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly. Yes, feel lightly even though you’re feeling deeply. Just lightly let things happen and lightly cope with them. I was so preposterously serious in those days, such a humorless little prig. Lightly, lightly – it’s the best advice ever given me…So throw away your baggage and go forward. There are quicksands all about you, sucking at your feet, trying to suck you down into fear and self-pity and despair. That’s why you must walk so lightly. Lightly my darling, on tiptoes and no luggage, not even a sponge bag, completely unencumbered.
– Aldous Huxley, Island
Credits: Image Source: amisfitlikeme. Quote Source: creatingaquietmind
There’s magic in these words.
I’ve read the quote at least 15x. And I too find magic each time.
I am moved! 🙂
🙂 Me too Meikah. Me too.
This is wonderful, and what sells it for me is the candor–“I was so preposterously serious in those days, such a humorless little prig.”. The most gracious, compelling, engaging people I know suggest, observe, consider–they don’t bludgeon with their beliefs.
Yes. Candor yet soft in his recommendation. Moving…
Very powerful.
Yes. I find the word “lightly” continues to bounce around in my head. It is powerful.
One of the memories is the lack of responsibility, I could play, explore and venture forth with no baggage. As I grew responsibility, memory, people and property began to weigh me down. In my past I hit quicksand and I lost some of the baggage, and I felt lighter and liberated. I try to keep my baggage light and the quicksands impact me thus less.
Good for you Alex. I have considerable amount of work to do on this front.
Wonderful quote, David. 🙂
Thanks AD.
I woke up telling myself a version of “Go lightly”. After seeing myself in pictures taken over the weekend, I realized a spend a good amount of time with furrowed brows – even when I’m having fun.
Thanks so much for sharing this. I’m going to print it out and put it above my desk.
Thanks Brenna. Me too on all fronts. And thanks for sharing the post.
🙂 “It is so easy to be solemn; it is so hard to be frivolous.” (G. K. Chesterton)
Love it!
Absolutely stunning…and I had to read it a few times also.
Smiling. I re-read it at least 10x. And I had the same reaction Bonnie. Thanks.
Thank you, a million times, thank you.
🙂 Thank you Lin.
Very inspiring word and image is so beautiful.
Thank you Indira. I found both to be inspiring as well. To think, write and string words like this together is magical.
Great post…feel like its talking right at me!!
And he was “way” talking to me. 🙂
This is beautiful. Good words to remember especially for those who tend to overanalyse and get caught up in “issues”.
Thank you Heidi. Yes, it’s written for me. 🙂
Dave – I just realized your ‘lightly child, lightly’ comments are in reference to The Island. It’s my favorite book of all time and a great quote 🙂
It had no idea. Thanks for sharing Joe.