Good Advice. In one ear.... Or an Oldie but Goodie...Or The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same

Originally published May 19,2005

*Sigh* Good advice, if only I could heed it even once in a while.

If you have not read Anne Lamott's Operating Instructions, you simply must.

Lamott on how to approach a new relationship:

Think of it as having come upon a beautiful canoe on the shore. Now, no matter how much you want to get in it and paddle way out into the water, maybe all the way across the Pacific, no matter how long you've had to wait to do so, you simply don't do it. You'd paddle around the shore for a while, maybe for weeks, take little excursions, test it out.

Maybe it would seem ok the first few times, but then it might turn out to be full of holes and cracks and start to sink, and you would need to bail. It would have turned out that you had gotten the last good hours out of that beautiful shitty little boat. It was a good thing you hadn't gone out very far.

Yep, I'm pretty sure I'm up a creek without a damn paddle in sight.

That shore thingy? I left it behind several weeks ago when I packed my lunch and tucked my heart in between the snack pack pudding and the baggie of baby carrots. The trip has been gorgeous, scary, exhilarating, enlightening, and, well, ...lovely. Just really, really lovely.

This shared journey will soon find us on the other side, thirsty, wiser, and armed with the confidence of having made it thus far, even more adventurous.

We are almost there!

Comments

[Natalie]

Where are you heading exactly? ..coordinates? lol :) When your up a creek without a paddle you can walk..It's pretty shallow actually..Ok I'll stop :)
you know I'm just jokin ya :)
Very Beautifully written..Inspiring...Your poeticism..
Is that a word? Well it is now :)

[GraceD]

Anne Lamott. The Goddess for all writers of the personal narrative. The woman who told us the truth about caring for an infant ("it was VIETNAM"), thw junkie who found Jesus but not the oppressive right wing version, more the black gospel choir singing joyous all loving Jesus.

Thanks for bringing up Anne L., Lu.

[Snidget]

what a great quote... and true...

though it's hard to heed it... I stick my toe in at first and then end up diving in.

Much to my chagrin later on.

[Betsy]

Oh, maaan...you have such a way with words.

Now come over to my place pretty soon and help me come up with a few good ones to use, will you?

[Genuine]

Canoe?....I dunno canoe?

[Mamacita]

I do love a good romance.