Book by Anne Lamott
This is a book about “almost everything” that Anne Lamott knows to be true. I appreciated the raw honesty in this book. Anne is a former alcoholic, and she can be brutally honest about feelings of hopelessness, depression, anxiety etc.
Anne talks about truth being paradoxical. Truth is not black and white or straight forward, so you won’t get those kinds of “truths” in this book. We never reach 100% satisfaction or happiness or contentedness in this life, and sometimes we need to stop striving so hard for these things. Sometimes it’s the little things we do that help us the most long-term.
This book talks about acts of kindness toward others and reaching outside of ourselves. There is a lot in this book about relationships with other people, family and friends, with chapter headings like: “Humans 101,” “Don’t Let Them Get You to Hate Them,” and “Famblies.”
The chapter call “Jah” is a beautiful depiction of who God might possibly be, or who God is from Anne’s perspective, that I found to be both mysterious and deep; illusive and yet cheek-to-cheek. I sensed God in the reading of it.
There is a chapter about writing which is very helpful to me as a writer, though brutally honest. Anne basically discouraged writing for money, fame or success. You likely won’t find it. You are more likely to learn about yourself in the writing and hopefully touch a few people who have experienced similar things.
There is a chapter on food and dieting that is helpful, especially for women.
The book as a whole touches on grief, death and aging. It touches on emotions, and how painful life can be, but never devoid of hope. The subtitle, underlying message and coda are full of hope in the midst of anguish, struggle and confusion. I really appreciated reading this book at a time in my own life when I am feeling lost in deconstruction and asking “Where is God” for the umpteenth time in my life. This book brushed the dirt off my knees and helped me take another breath, grateful to be alive.