I urge you to find a way to immerse yourself fully in the life that you’ve been given. To stop running from whatever you’re trying to escape, and instead to stop, and turn, and face whatever it is. Then I dare you to walk toward it. In this way, the world may reveal itself to you as something magical and awe-inspiring that does not require escape. Instead, the world may become something worth paying attention to. The rewards of finding and maintaining balance are neither immediate nor permanent. They require patience and maintenance. We must be willing to move forward despite being uncertain of what lies ahead. We must have faith that actions today that seem to have no impact in the present moment are in fact accumulating in a positive direction, which will be revealed to us only at some unknown time in the future. Healthy practices happen day by day. My patient Maria said to me, “Recovery is like that scene in Harry Potter when Dumbledore walks down a darkened alley lighting lampposts along the way. Only when he gets to the end of the alley and stops to look back does he see the whole alley illuminated, the light of his progress.”
— Anna Lembke, Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence (Dutton, August 24, 2021)
such a wonderful way to approach life and see some meaning to all of it
Sure is…
Heard this author interviewed by Terry Gross on ‘Fresh Air’ the other day. Fascinating….
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/08/25/1030930259/in-dopamine-nation-overabundance-keeps-u-s-craving-more
I enjoyed the book very much. It is certainly timely.
And thanks for the link Lori
My pleasure. Have a relaxing holiday. ☺️
You too Lori.
Thanks for the link, Lori. I’ve bookmarked it to listen to later 🙂
Yes, it seemed like its release was propitious.
Propitious. Love that.
It’s a word with a certain degree of “mental umami,” no? Just love the way it rolls off the tongue. ☺️
“Mental Umami”. Wow. a category of taste in food (besides sweet, sour, salt, and bitter), corresponding to the flavor of glutamates, especially monosodium glutamate.
Are you going to keep doing this to me all morning Word Sensai?
The thing about umami is that it describes a savory sensation that’s a bit difficult to define, and that’s how I feel about certain words. They are ‘savory.’ ☺️
Hmmmm
WOW!!!!!! SOUNDSW GREAT!!!!!
Doesn’t it though?!?!?
a powerful insight into that Dumbledore scene. reminds me of Steve Job’s quote:
“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.”
Agree Jim. Lot of wisdom in that
long live Steve Jobs…
Wisdom, which could be applicable in other areas of life, as well. Sounds like a way to approach financial solvency. Lori,thanks for the heads up re: “Fresh Air”, segment! I will take time this week to listen
I love that imagery! It is so easy to get caught up in each step, and not see the whole of the progress being made.
That’s it Bethany!
As I read her words I feel drawn back to the past … when these words were so awe inspiring , and I was so curious and ready to open to the wake up call 🙏
Now it’s like … a resounding Yes and Duh! Get with the program of mindfulness, movement, self compassion, then stillness and love 💕
Smiling. I still find myself saying “DUH!”
Dang.
And I love the Dumbledore reference. As well as the Steve Jobs quote shared by Jim.
I’m feeling right now in a sort of limbo. While I do strive to immerse myself in the now, I’m feeling stuck. Sigh.
If you are in limbo, 70% of the rest of the population is in quick sand.
Hah! Wherever do you get that silly idea?
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