I love the title of this charming book by Katherine Center. Call me Pollyanna, go on, it's all right, really. You wouldn't be the first to do so. You won't be the last either I'm sure. Looking on the sunny side, looking for the silver lining in a dark, black cloud, that's me. I've always been a "glass half full" kind of person. I just wouldn't know how to be anything else. Am I always "Sally Sunshine"? 24/7? Of course not...there are down days, there are sad days, but within those kind of days, I can usually manage to find a flicker of something positive. And if not that day, then the day after that.
That's what Katherine Center is talking about through the life of her main character Jenny. The book begins with this sentence:
The end began with a plane crash.
As the book reaches it's conclusion we realize that what Jenny really meant was:
"the end of the life I thought I was going to have.”
Isn't that quite often the way life is? We can plan and design. We can dream and create. We can work towards a specific goal. And then seemingly out of nowhere the life that we thought we were going to have is changed. Sometimes it's by something drastic and dramatic. Sometimes it's a small event, something that happened to someone else but impacts our life, shifting the sands that may well only have been supporting a house of cards.
When I had finished reading Katherine's book, I was reminded of this quote, one that I refer to often:
We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.
Joseph Campbell
14 comments:
The quotation from Joseph Campbell resonates with me - as does the premise of the book. It’s on my list.
And being able to do the “Pollyanna” thing is a wonderful talent!
Release...the word I chose in January for my year...it is re-surfacing now. There is a life waiting for me...
Happy Wednesday, Lovely Sherry !
Yes that is a good quote ...
We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.
How true that is.
Oh, I love that Joseph Campbell quote. And it totally fits with the theme of the book! A perfect connection. Thank you so much for your kind words about Bright Side! I'm so glad you liked it. And thanks, also for putting up a button for Everyone Is Beautiful. I always feel so thrilled when I see those buttons on people's blogs. Your blog is lovely, and it's a pleasure to be featured here!
Warmly,
Katherine Center
oh, I so needed this post today. Right now my life is not half-empty, but so full that it is spilling over everywhere - hectic job, messy house etc. Thanks for today's reminder!
You always find the most wonderful books to read....I LOVE Joseph Campbell's quote :)
Lovely post from a lovely lady!
Love,
LuLu~*xoxo
That quote is really wonderful. And you are full of beautiful thoughts, as always. Again - thank you for sharing.
I'm always so thrilled when the person I am blogging about comes to visit! In this case, thank you so much Katherine for leaving me a comment. Your book was enjoyable, not just because of the characters (some of whom you come to love to hate!! Not mentioning any man's name!! lol!! And even then, you portrayed him so well that we were able to see his flaws as well as how he wanted to do the right thing, just didn't really know what that was), but because you chose such a "possible" theme. Even when we're getting it "wrong" we can still be getting it "right".
I just saw that quote somewhere else recently and wrote it down! It fits so many situations. I'm a bit of a Pollyanna too, but I'm happy that way:>)
Great reminders. Thanks!
Oh great, another book to look out for. It's true how things rarely turn out the way we hope, impagine, expect them to. Going with the flow, keeping an open mind and spirit is key in making lemonade.
I'm always amazed at the number of decisions I've made in life without really thinking through the consequences. Which means I've ended up adding all sorts of twists and turns out of sheer lack of thought. It's kind of scary.
Beautiful thoughts to take in with breakfast. Thanks!
That quote is so true and truly wonderful.
Love your beautiful thoughts - thank you for sharing ^_^
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