Wednesday, February 9

Serenity Now!


So, this week at The Café we’re talking about interesting quotes, and, I have to say that I am a sucker not just for the interesting quote, but also the inspirational quote.

I spend hours collecting them. Both for my books—all of the books in The Immortals series, as well as the Riley Bloom series, start with a quote—and for myself.

I scribble them on little bits of paper—thumb type them into my iPhone “notes” feature—add them to a “quotes” document I keep in my laptop—and yes, someday when I find the time, I plan to arrange them all neatly together!

But there’s one quote that never leaves my desk. It’s coffee stained, grease stained, pen-scuffed—come to think of it, it’s pretty disgusting—though it’s message never fails to shine through and help keep me sane and focused in what can sometimes be an insane business.

I’m pretty sure I lifted it from the Tao de Ching—but please don’t quote me on that!

Anyway, it goes like this:

Fill your bowl to the brim

and it will spill

Keep sharpening your knife

and it will blunt

Chase after money and security

and your heart will never unclench

Care about people’s approval

and you will be their prisoner

Do your work, then step back.

The only path to serenity.



What about you--do you have a favorite "sanity" quote??



4 comments:

Me said...

Beautiful, Alyson. Such a wonderful lesson. Thank you for sharing this. :)

Wendy Toliver said...

As someone who actually wrote a book on inspirational quotes, I love collecting them too. I love this one you've shared with us. Thank you!

Amanda Ashby said...

What a gorgeous quote! I'm going to add that to my collection (but not in a greedy non-spiritual way of course!!!!!!)

Melissa Walker said...

Love it. I have a Margaret Mitchell magnet on my fridge with a quote from her that reads, "In a weak moment I have written a book." It makes me smile and remember that the writing isn't ALL there is.