Saturday, April 10, 2010

I've-Been-Holding-Back-Paralysis

I'm reading the book, "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Life." Can I just say, Go out and buy this book immediately if not sooner? No, really. Stop reading this, go buy it. Srsly--there's a link right there, click on it. Go buy it, then come back and read what I have to say about it and why you'll thank me for forcing you to buy (and read) this book that will change your life for the better period-exclamation-point.

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Life

Okay, now that you're back: Hi! So while I was reading that book you just purchased, I'll go ahead and tell you the feelings I felt that you will now inevitably feel. (Since I feel somewhat responsible for the feelings that will be felt, I'll go ahead and say, "You're welcome" right now. You're welcome!! :))

Well, first and foremost, I felt understood. This guy totally understands what it feels like to be human! I'm sure we all do (if we don't, we officially have a problem); but no, I mean, he understands how I feel. He can put it into words--he knows how to articulate it. Hope, excitement, anticipation, enthusiasm, motivation. These are all really great feelings, btw.

He's funny. I'm funny? So we have tons in common already. We're both human, understand what it's like being so human, and we're both funny. (I'm sure you're funny too; so now we all relate, being that we are all human and funny.)

This book is inspired by a memoir he wrote that someone wanted to turn into a movie. They needed to spice up the story a bit, because, as we all know, movies need to climax faster than "books" do. For that matter, books don't climax the way movies do. The character in a book can have an internal climax and you feel it, but in the movie, there has to be an external climax (since it's visual) for you to feel and relate. (He explains this all in the book very well, which gives you a great understanding of what he means anyway.) (I am totally not doing this "idea" justice, FYI.)

Since I've started reading this book, I've begun to feel more capable, less afraid, more certain of what I "need" to do. There are other things in my life right now (the embrace of minimalism, as it were, the understanding of priorities and even short-term goals, etc.,) that have helped me grasp this concept even more.

I am feeling that God is preparing me--he's setting me up. It's time. I keep feeling like, "Welp! It's time!" Time for what, you say? Time to get off our booties and live life. Wait, wait, you know what I'm going to say next!: to the fullest.

The book is full of Donald Miller's personal experiences with couch-potato-ism to living-fully-finally. He has bright alternatives to an otherwise bleak lifestyle. He promotes getting-out-there-ed-ness while relating to I've-been-holding-back-paralysis. If you feel like you've already been living fully, you'll enjoy the book even more, because it will encourage you and mentally pat you on the back for being such a great influence on yourself.

This blog is incomplete without you having actually read the book, but when you do, we'll be able to look at each other, square in the eyes, and say, "I knooooow!" And then we'll probably end up doing something fantastic with our lives.

We'll really make memories.


This is what minimalism is all about: letting go of possessions that hold memories, and embracing experiences that do.

2 comments:

  1. I love the minimalist thing.

    http://quirksandglitches.blogspot.com/2008/08/simplethings.html

    ReplyDelete
  2. i am getting this book. that's happening. then: i knoooooooow!

    ReplyDelete