Shyames

“Sypiałam swego czasu z pewnym Protestantem, który z kolei wytyczał autostrady, i on mi mówił, podobno cytując Lutra, że ten, kto cierpi, widzi tył Boga. Zastanawiałam się, czy chodzi o plecy, czy może pośladki, jak wygląda ten boski tył, skoro nie potrafimy sobie wyobrazić przodu. Wygląda więc na to, że ten, kto cierpi, ma do Boga dostęp specjalnymi, kuchennymi drzwiami, jest błogosławiony, ogarnia jakąś prawdę, którą bez cierpienia trudno by było pojąć. W pewnym sensie zdrowy jest więc tylko ten, kto cierpi, jakkolwiek to dziwnie brzmi. To pasowałoby do całości, myślę.”
― Olga Tokarczuk, Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead

“That was part of my problem. It wasn't always easy for me to identify my emotions and label them for what they were. To an outside observer, it might have even seemed like I felt too little, and that I was unaffected by most things.”
― Susie Tate, Outlier

“November 1 SINGING YOUR OWN PRAISES “Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.” —A. A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh As an introvert, you might have grown up feeling anything but grateful for your personality. You tried to cure your introversion by mimicking extroverted behavior. Of course, this didn’t work because you can’t fix what isn’t broken. You are an introvert. You like people, but sometimes you like your alone time more. You think deeply and choose your words carefully. You enjoy different pastimes than the extrovert down the street. None of this makes you a bad person. In fact, there are billions of other people who share your preferences. So, let’s try a different approach, shall we? Let’s try on a little self-acceptance for size. Instead of trying to fix or cure, let’s celebrate our strengths. For the longest time, I saw my quietness as a fatal flaw, a sign that I was not friendly or feminine enough. Now, I see it as just another piece of the intricate mosaic that is my personality. Alongside my quietness, there is also intuition, wisdom, and an ability to read between the lines. Sure, I speak slowly and pause often, but I am singing on the inside. Those who matter can hear my silent song. This month’s entries will help you to see the beauty in your introverted nature and guide you toward singing your own praises (quietly, of course).”
― Michaela Chung, The Year of the Introvert: A Journal of Daily Inspiration for the Inwardly Inclined

“The most important words a man can say are, “I will do better.” These are not the most important words any man can say. I am a man, and they are what I needed to say.

The ancient code of the Knights Radiant says “journey before destination.” Some may call it a simple platitude, but it is far more. A journey will have pain and failure. It is not only the steps forward that we must accept. It is the stumbles. The trials. The knowledge that we will fail. That we will hurt those around us.

But if we stop, if we accept the person we are when we fall, the journey ends. That failure becomes our destination. To love the journey is to accept no such end. I have found, through painful experience, that the most important step a person can take is always the next one.

I’m certain some will feel threatened by this record. Some few may feel liberated. Most will simply feel that it should not exist. I needed to write it anyway.”
― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer