I used to almost exclusively read educational and self-help books. I read fiction probably only every 5 or 6 books, thinking that this was what I needed to develop my thinking and gain a richer understanding of the world around me.
I’m glad I got over that đ
I now try to vary with every other book – one “light, fun” book and one “heavy, head-ey” book.
I started my 2024 by reading Diamond Doris by Doris Payne, and Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make and Keep Friends by Marisa G. Franco PhD. I’m still in the middle of the book Platonic (thanks for the recommendation, Shanti!), but I finished Diamond Doris a couple weeks ago, and WHEW! What a read.Â
It’s the true story of one of the most successful jewel thieves of the past 100 years, and I absolutely loved it. The book started off a little bit slow to me, but once it hit its stride, I couldn’t stop reading it.
My lingering impression from the book was that we all need grace. And more so, we all need to have a lot more grace for ourselves. That is such an odd thing to take away from the book, given that there were bigger themes presented, but it was apparent that Doris Payne made the best life she could given the hands she was given.
âYou didn't make good choices,Â
you had good choices.â
-Kerry Washington
Little Fires Everywhere
If you know anything about the Enneagram, you’d know that Type 1s, which I am, are the “type” of law and order. Black and white. Right and wrong. This mentality has served me very well in some areas of life and has greatly limited me in other areas.
A book celebrating a diamond thief’s life and successful conquests goes against everything inside of me. I have spent many years teaching children the skills they need to “make good choices,” and on that list is not committing themselves to a life of crime.
Yet, life is not black and white. If you read my past blog post about privilege, you’d know that I have come to accept that I am able to live the life I have lived because of even the blessing of being born to the parents I have.
So, once again, I’m not writing a blog with a fantastic, pretty, neat bow of an ending. I am writing to spill out my thoughts on life:
- I still think there can be such a thing as right and wrong. There are even natural consequences, etc.
- I recognize that some people have everything and still don’t do “right.” Some people don’t have anything, and the little ways they can help the world are actually significant because they are starting with so much less.
- Life is hard. Life is complex. We’re all just trying to make sense of it with the morality and code of ethics we have been handed down from our families, cultures, heck, even what Google has told us.
So, be kind to yourself today. Be kind. You may not be stealing diamonds, but is there something you’re doing today that makes you ask the question “what I am doing?”Â
Do you feel like you’ve sold your soul to corporate America? Yes, you’d rather be saving the world (whatever that means), but instead, you’re pushing paper and creating Excel docs. Dude, student loans are a real thing. Give yourself grace. Maybe life isn’t what you want it to be, but that doesn’t mean you are a failure.
Anywho, that’s my ramble for today.
I seriously appreciate the overwhelming support I’ve received from these blog posts! I started blogging recently on Mondays and Thursdays as an outlet for my thoughts, and so many of you are resonating (in the most random ways), so THANK YOU!
If you want to subscribe to my weekly Sunshine Emails that go out every Monday, click HERE đ
Love & Joy,
Vimbo
P.S. Treat your long-distance friends to a sweet treat AND give to a great cause by ordering online HERE!
