Isn’t this the time of year we wait for all Winter? Buds push their colorful little heads out of the recently thawed earth and voila, it’s Spring! Crocuses and daffodils make my heart go pitter-patter. I planted fifty new tulip bulbs last Fall which are also anxious to grow! Yay!
Our Book Club book this month was, “What You are Looking for is in the Library,” by Michiko Aoyama, an a easy read that takes place in modern day Japan. It consists of five short stories, with the centerpiece being the librarian in the local community center. Each character is stumped by the life they are leading. They are each at a crossroads of some sort, each at a loss as to how to proceed. The community center and then, of course, the Librarian, gives them a gentle nudge in a direction they might not have found left to their own self imposed limitations.
While I was contemplating the many questions I had for our group discussion I also began listening to the latest episode of Elizabeth and Liana’s podcast. Their theme for this episode was about being fully self-expressed in relationships. Which begins with having already determined what is and what is not important to you. It’s about being brave enough to explore your own values and how you care to BE in the world. To compromise, of course, but being steadfast enough that you never bend so far to another’s will that you become uncomfortable with who you have become. To know who you are and who you want to be.
As Elizabeth says, “To be your authentic self!” That takes work! And maybe a little nudge.
One quote from the book was from a daughter recounting a lesson her dad had taught her as a child, “If you only ever look in front, your view will be quite narrow. So whenever I feel stuck or don’t know what to do I try to broaden my view, relax my shoulders and walk sideways like a crab.” (The crab was in context with the story.) In that way she can look at her world from a different angle, get creative.
Both the podcast and the book are making me think about how we can choose to view our lives and the lessons we learn over the years and about how authentically we put ourselves out into the world. Fortunately, as we age and collect life experiences some of this just comes to us naturally. We know who we are and can be fairly certain that the people who profess to love us, love us for who we actually are. And we love them back for who exactly they are. We don’t need to agree on everything, but we can compromise by respecting each other’s differences.
I have to say that I don’t think I have in my acquaintance anyone who is less than authentic. Nobody saying look at me for what I have not who I am. Nobody telling anybody else how to be! That’s a relief. Yet, I think in our adulthood we can all benefit from broadening our views and bringing a little creativity into our new directions. I may have to relax my shoulders and start walking sideways like a crab!