I got one of the most practical teachings from my singing teacher, Judith. It also happens to me sometimes that I whine because of something small, attach enormous significance to insignificant things or an unpleasant experience makes me sick. On one of these occasions she “cured” my wailing with one single sentence:
‘A coal mine! That would do good for you! If you worked 10-12 hours a day for a piece of bread and water your thoughts would get clear in a minute! You wouldn’t have strength to think about all this nonsense, you’d be so tired that even getting a good night sleep would make you happy,’ she said. I didn’t go to work in a coal mine but I immediately understood the teaching. I make great use of it even today…
When All Seems Lost — and Even When It Doesn’t… As a writer, I read more than average. Not necessarily books that fall within my immediate interests, but rather those I can learn from, marvel at, analyze word by word, and sometimes even those that demand more effort from me than usual. That is how it is with Alice Munro. I bought my first book by her when she received the Nobel Prize. Then life happened, and the volume sat on my bookshelf—either I had no time for it, or it lingered somewhere at the bottom of my list of priorities. When I finally picked it up, I could hardly believe my eyes—or my reaction. First, I was utterly outraged; my blood pressure shot through the roof in an instant, and I almost started swearing in disbelief. I had barely skimmed the first few lines, yet that was enough to know: it was perfect. A true masterpiece. Excellence among the excellent. Every word reached the deepest layers of my soul. I was touched by its purity, its delicacy, the noblest simpli...
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