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That Was Then : This Is Now

September 18, 2016

 

The book I just finished for the #TenPagesADay challenge is super brilliant and funny and pretty much has me wanting to be transported within so I can be Lizzie Vogel’s auxiliary nurse friend.

In the final chapters of the book, Lizzie’s attitudes shift and her perspective are shaken up a bit. (I am being purposely vague because I don’t want to spoil the story for those who haven’t read it!)

Lizzie tells us:

I didn’t want the peace that comes with acceptance, I wanted the ongoing chronic joy that came with ignorance and fantasy.

I love this so much, because WHO HASN’T wanted to hold on for dear life to how they THOUGHT things were, while the actual, more truthful, clear view of it all whooshes by, pulling us along with it whether we like it or not?

I think I used to be more the ignorance and fantasy type, but as I’ve gotten older I realise that the acceptance type makes less of a mess of things, in the long run.

That said, I tend to head into life with a pragmatic-yet-wishful attitude because I really don’t understand the point of not being hopeful and thinking the best of things.  The alternative would make me someone like this. That’s really not my cup of tea.

Sometimes I think we’re taught that the key to happiness is low expectations, but really it’s much braver to have high-ish expectations and learn to be resilient and cope with any dodgy aftermath as best we can.

Surely that’s how we become excellent people?

It’s funny how one line in a book can make you ponder optimism and hope and cynicism and boring-ness and, really, the entire lens you view the world with. (Especially when it’s a funny/comedic type book!)

Lizzie Vogel is a funny-yet-intuitive heroine and an all ’round good influence, I think.

Are you doing #TenPagesADay yet? Go on! It’s really ace and I am already up to my second hold-in-your-hands book for September (accidentally reading these out of order, whoops!) which is a MIRACLE for the digital-reading-addicted type of person that I am.

PLUS you might find a sentence that makes you ponder the day/week away. So that could be good.

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5 Comments

  • Reply Hannah September 28, 2016 at 11:31 AM

    #tenpagesaday has been the best thing for me. I won’t go to sleep until I’ve done it, and it’s the fastest I’ve read a book in years!! On to my second now – may have to keep this 10 pages thing going forever x

    • Reply Meet Me At Mikes September 28, 2016 at 3:33 PM

      It’s such a simple idea, but it works SO WELL, doesn’t it, Hannah? I am feeling THE SAME about reading too… MUCH IMPROVED!! xx

  • Reply Clare September 22, 2016 at 4:49 AM

    Another book to add to my big list of books! I have ordered Man at the Helm from my library. I have already read one non fiction book for 10 pages a day and I have just started my second, thanks!!

  • Reply Krissy September 20, 2016 at 2:29 PM

    Hmmm! Checking that out!

  • Reply Edie September 20, 2016 at 11:08 AM

    Yes I need to do the 10 pages a day. I’m so bad at not finishing the book club books and cramming them on the train on the way! Yup I’m that sort of person! As for expectations, go high I reckon. Resilience is soooooooo good to learn, takes you far xxxxx

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