Day 233/366 days Towards Self-Mastery.
"Every woman should have three well-paved avenue of page-turning adventures: a proper bookstore stocked by bibliophiles, a choice second-hand haunt, and a civilised lending library." Could anyone say it more beautifully than Sarah.
My love of books was overwhelmed by the necessity to pick up and move on. Volumes of fabulous treasures reluctantly relinquished to lighten my load as I ran from location to location, city to city, country to country, relationships to relationship in my fruitless effort to distance myself from a world that I had learned early not to trust.
My last sad memory is of boxes of books being packed for the second-hand store, keeping only those very special treasures that would fill two small bookshelves, and travel lightly with me through more than 35 moves.
Even as I write, my love of books yearns for more expression. More breathing space that now I may just have sufficient breath to afford it.
How interesting is it that my breath weaves its way through my life's journeys? This thought crosses my mind as I reflect on the breathlessness of moving and retreating, distancing and isolating myself to cope with a world and life beyond me. Then to discover the long slow breath out as I finally discover the path to restoring my inner world and my place to stop and settle and put down deep roots.
How books inspire us is, I think, as unique as each of us. For me it is not to compare myself and my life to others more or less accomplished but to inspire my dreams, to be curious about how others think and interpret and conjure up ideas and inspirations. And to explore and contemplate the conclusions that they draw.
From ancient ruins to photosynthesis, mind exploration to the stuff of the universe and quantum physics, my interests are varied yet connected in the most surprising ways that only become available by accident of joining the dots.
Shall we never lose those who love and inspire through the collection of, the writing of, and the publishing of real, hold-it-in-my-hands inspirational books.
366 days Towards Self-Mastery
When I considered my New Year's intentions for 2020 I had just one: To allow my heart to love what it loved...and let it lead me. (If not now, then when?)
I've spent months working on integrating my life. To live life more fully with my home life, my interests, my work, my responsibilities, all coming together, all connected. I want to give each the attention that they desire and need, and still have time and energy for the others. That means living and working from the heart.
As I was clearing out my bookshelf over the Christmas break I discovered Simple Abundance. I set it aside to explore it on New Year's Day as I lazed through another delicious day of nothingness. Sarah, the author, says this book is about living in grace. Living in grace I realised, is about Self-Mastery.
My thirst for understanding the human condition has driven me all my life, and hand-in-hand with self-mastery it has been a life-long goal. And seeing as I love to write, that living in grace is about self-mastery, and I love a bit of a challenge, then if I am truly going to let my heart lead, I really don't have any other choice. So scary as it feels, I'm starting out on a daily mission of leaning into the suggestions of this daybook and making a daily post to keep me accountable. If not now, then when?
I'm Josie. You can find out a little more about me here.
Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy: by Sarah Ban Breathnach.
This book is written for the Australian and NZ market because it refers to seasonal changes. It's available on Amazon here if you'd like to follow along.