Lightly Child, Lightly

~ Live & Learn

The truth? The truth about all this?… We’re doing the best we can, we really are. We’re trying to be grown-up and love each other and understand how the hell you’re supposed to insert USB leads. We’re looking for something to cling on to, something to fight for, something to look forward to. We’re doing all we can to teach our children how to swim. We have all of this in common, yet most of us remain strangers, we never know what we do to each other, how your life is affected by mine. Perhaps we hurried past each other in a crowd today, and neither of us noticed, and the fibers of your coat brushed against mine for a single moment and then we were gone. I don’t know who you are. But when you get home this evening, when this day is over and the night takes us, allow yourself a deep breath. Because we made it through this day as well. There’ll be another one along tomorrow.

—  Fredrik Backman, “Anxious People: A Novel” (Atria Books, September 8, 2020) 

Notes:

  • Fredrik Backman portrait by Casper Hedberg for The New York Times
  • Post Title & Inspiration: Aldous Huxley: “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.”

43 thoughts on “Lightly Child, Lightly”

      2. The butterfly effect is the idea that small things can have non-linear impacts on a complex system. The concept is imagined with a butterfly flapping its wings and causing a typhoon. Of course, a single act like the butterfly flapping its wings cannot cause a typhoon, but one things leads to another…

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      1. Really….
        Gosh………… This is what drives me up the wall with HH. The “at peace” expression shouldn’t have down-pulled mouth corners….. But I know, this is a sensitive subject with me 🤔🤗

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  8. Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
    Yes, we are!! The best we can … “But when you get home this evening, when this day is over and the night takes us, allow yourself a deep breath. Because we made it through this day as well. There’ll be another one along tomorrow.” — Fredrik Backman, “Anxious People: A Novel” (Atria Books, September 8, 2020) .

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  10. My first reaction: he looks like a little boy trying not to cry, trying to be brave…reminiscent of the 3 year old boy from the other day, needing someone strong and loving to let him know that he will be alright…. As adults we have to find that within our selves….

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