Day 15: 350 days left…97 books to go!

Simple Abundance  The Habit of Being

• On the life of Flannery O'Connor...who as said to have, ..."a deep joie de vivre".  

• "Her mornings were sacred, reserved for her writing, but the rest of the day was devoted to being Flannery."
• "The habit of being- the exultation in the present moment- is an exquisite concept, one that could enrich our lives beyond measure.  We're all habitual creatures, but usually we practice the habits of doing:  getting up, making breakfast, getting children off to school and getting ourselves to work.  Then there are the habits of brooding:  projecting into the future, dwelling on the past, nursing old wounds, holding imaginary conversations, indulging in comparisons, conducting endless mental calculations about money, gnawing on regrets, second-guessing inspiration, ruminating on problems at work, anticipating the worst.  The habits of brooding are rooted in the past or the future, they can rob the present moment of all harmony, beauty, and joy."
• "The habit of being is a grateful appreciation for the good surrounding us, no matter what our circumstances might be today.  What if you knew there was always going to be a simple pleasure to look forward to every few hours?  What if you made sure there was?  How do you think you would greet the day?
• "Wouldn't it be better for you to discover a meaning in what you write than to impose one?  Nothing you write will lack meaning because the meaning is you."  Flannery O'Connor