I’ve been feeling really sad lately with several recent life events, and need to connect to the fact that there is kindness in the world. Anything that describes people helping others, or just has kindness in it. Even the way Van and Rachel talk to each other on Higher Learning - open about their struggles, debate with kindness and respect. Genre doesn’t really matter too much. Thanks!
Gilbert -- the author of Eat, Pray, Love -- shared about losing her partner Raya, who had a long history of HARD-CORE drug use. When Raya was diagnosed with cancer, Raya pleaded with the doctor not to put her on opioids. But eventually, she needed them for the unbearable pain. And she quickly relapsed into heavy drug use.
How Gilbert navigated this incredibly difficult & painful situation is something I think we can all learn from. Gilbert had to draw a line in order to take care of herself. At times she hated Raya for what she was doing. But she never closed her heart to Raya.
The interview is part of Sounds True's Radical Compassion Challenge, which concludes today (5/5/21). I'll try to post the direct link to the interview. Not sure if it'll work if you didn't actually sign up for the event?
I think after the event ends -- the interview will no longer be free to access. Hope at least some people can catch it today.
There is so much pain for both those who hoard and their loved ones who suffer collateral damage 😔For me, hearing Gilbert's story was incredibly enlightening.
I'm still trying to handle this on a daily basis. For me it definitely isn't easy. And in my opinion it's especially for younger generations hard to see the truth. A generation growing up - always connected - always online. There's never the point where you're really for yourself, except you create these moments on your own.
Thoughts?
By her very own admission, there is nothing fancy about Elizabeth Gilbert’s writing routine. There’s no romantic notion of the inspiration-struck artist, magical talisman or quirky ritual that she needs to rely on to get started on her work each day. Instead, the American author, whose 2006 memoir, Eat, Pray, Love, turned her into a best-seller, describes her daily routine as blue-collar and workmanlike.
“I have no German Romantic idea about work,” she admitted to The Daily Beast. “There’s no fugue state, you know? I could no more write at 3 a.m. than I could with a quill pen. I keep farmer’s hours and I have that sort of plotting and plodding way.”
For Gilbert, her life is divided into two distinct times — writing mode and non-writing mode. She approaches her work as a seasonal event, only actively writing a book once every few years while spending the time outside of that on planning and researching her next one as well as promoting her previous books.
After she’s spent several years researching and preparing for her next book, she’ll clean her house, tell everyone in her life not to expect to hear from her in a while. After that, she tells Copyblogger, “clear off my schedule until I have a nice long block of empty time. Bow down. Ask for grace. Commit to the idea of collaborating with the book, not going to war against it. Cross fingers. Make a cup of tea. Begin.”
>I became a writer the way other people become monks or nuns. I made a vow to writing, very young. I became Bride-of-Writing. I was writing’s most devotional handmaiden. I built my entire life around writing. I didn’t know how else to do this. I didn’t know anyone who had ever become a writer. I had no, as they say, connections. I had no clues. I just began.
On a writing day, Gilbert is up between 4.30-5am. “My favorite time to write is between 5 to 10 a.m., because that way you have the total silence before the world starts chasing you down,” she says.
“By 10 the phone is ringing, emails are coming in, all sorts of things need your care and attention. So I like those secret morning hours. If I’m really gunning, toward the end of project, I might write past noon, but that would be rare.”
When it comes to her writing set-up, Gilbert keeps it simple, relying on index cards and Microsoft Word. “I use a method I learned when I was 14, in Western Civilization class, cataloguing ideas on index cards, in shoe boxes,” she said describing her research system. “My newest book has five shoeboxe
... keep reading on reddit ➡Hi! I have a self-help podcast called Sit Still With Sierra! In my latest episode, I did a book review of Elizabeth Gilbert's book Big Magic. The book is all about living a creative life without fear so you should def give my latest episode a listen if you're a fan of her work!
https://anchor.fm/sierra-lyons/episodes/Episode-23-Big-Magic-Book-Review-ev2r0m
❤️a much needed reminder for self.
It feels like forever and no time at all at the same time.
I spent about 6 months here first, reading success stories trying to believe it was possible not only to live life alcohol free, but even enjoy it? Could that really be true? It was so far way from my life and the way that I lived.
I started 2018 trying to moderate and do a 100 day challenge. Within those 100 days I was "allowed" 6 "exceptions" where I could drink.
I was so scared to even begin. Even with the exceptions I didn't see how I could go that many days without a drink.
By the end of the first 4 weeks I only had 2 exceptions left and I quickly realised that every single thing in my life revolved around drinking. Seeing friends, going out for lunch, even taking the kids to the playground was an excuse to go for a beer afterwards.
I started playing around with the idea of going for 100 days straight. I had a new pattern. Feel like shit after drinking, not drink for 5 days, start feeling really good, drink again and repeat. I could see the each drinking session set my mood back for at least 3-4 days.
My last drinking day was 5th Feb 2018, I woke up the next day so hungover. Puking outside in the rain, head pounding, feeling like such a loser. As the day wore on I had such a feeling of relief. I never had to feel like that again. I never had to poison myself again. I got to choose and I had the control.
Hand on heart, every aspect of my life is better now. It's not perfect and never will be, but I am happier, more content, and so proud of what I have achieved.
For me stopping drinking had a knock on effect on every other part of my life. I go to the gym now, I eat better, my relationships have improved, work is easier, the sleep is next level and most importantly of all I am a much better, less stressed mum to my kids. Our family life has improved so much and I am so proud I am role modelling a sober life to my kids.
There is something very powerful about living through a year of firsts, first sober weekend, first holiday, first birthday, first Christmas. I can say I have done it all and it has mostly been wonderful.
What next for me? Keep going, find a way to give back to the community, share my story. Inspire others to live a life free from poison.
There is no way I could have done this with SD - you are my support network. Thank you all for sharing your stories and an extra big thank you for the mods and the awesome work you do.
https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/City-of-Girls-Audiobook/148948521X?ref=a_hp_c9_dd&pf_rd_p=b66ee1d3-a538-4214-8d4c-68f012e86c85&pf_rd_r=2CRH1AETT9RRM6KRFWD0
By her very own admission, there is nothing fancy about Elizabeth Gilbert’s writing routine. There’s no romantic notion of the inspiration-struck artist, magical talisman or quirky ritual that she needs to rely on to get started on her work each day. Instead, the American author, whose 2006 memoir, Eat, Pray, Love, turned her into a best-seller, describes her daily routine as blue-collar and workmanlike.
“I have no German Romantic idea about work,” she admitted to The Daily Beast. “There’s no fugue state, you know? I could no more write at 3 a.m. than I could with a quill pen. I keep farmer’s hours and I have that sort of plotting and plodding way.”
For Gilbert, her life is divided into two distinct times — writing mode and non-writing mode. She approaches her work as a seasonal event, only actively writing a book once every few years while spending the time outside of that on planning and researching her next one as well as promoting her previous books.
After she’s spent several years researching and preparing for her next book, she’ll clean her house, tell everyone in her life not to expect to hear from her in a while. After that, she tells Copyblogger, “clear off my schedule until I have a nice long block of empty time. Bow down. Ask for grace. Commit to the idea of collaborating with the book, not going to war against it. Cross fingers. Make a cup of tea. Begin.”
>I became a writer the way other people become monks or nuns. I made a vow to writing, very young. I became Bride-of-Writing. I was writing’s most devotional handmaiden. I built my entire life around writing. I didn’t know how else to do this. I didn’t know anyone who had ever become a writer. I had no, as they say, connections. I had no clues. I just began.
On a writing day, Gilbert is up between 4.30-5am. “My favorite time to write is between 5 to 10 a.m., because that way you have the total silence before the world starts chasing you down,” she says.
“By 10 the phone is ringing, emails are coming in, all sorts of things need your care and attention. So I like those secret morning hours. If I’m really gunning, toward the end of project, I might write past noon, but that would be rare.”
When it comes to her writing set-up, Gilbert keeps it simple, relying on index cards and Microsoft Word. “I use a method I learned when I was 14, in Western Civilization class, cataloguing ideas on index cards, in shoe boxes,” she said describing her research system. “My newest book has five shoeboxe
... keep reading on reddit ➡