It's been a long time (2018) since I did a re-cap of my favorite quotes from a book. This is mostly due to my increased use in audiobooks. Audiobooks make fine companions for house cleaning and morning walks but not so much for documenting quotes I want to remember.
For book club in April we read The Gifts of Imperfection. I've read a few Brene Brown books, and I like a lot of her ideas. Since I was already familiar with some of her research, there was a lot of overlap, but the timing for this book was perfect. After I read the book, I found myself reflecting on it frequently in regards to our current life circumstances. I feel like right now I have such a wonderful opportunity to pause and consider what elements of my previous life are worth hanging on to and which ones I need to let go of.
Here are some of the quotes I enjoyed from The Gifts of Imprefection by Brene Brown:
On Connection
"Technology... has become a kind of imposter for connection, making us believe that we're connected when we're really not - at least not in the ways we need to be. In our technology-crazed world, we've confused being communicative with feeling connected. Just because we're plugged in, doesn't mean we feel seen and heard" (p. 20).
"One of the greatest barriers to connection is the cultural importance we place on "going at it alone." Somehow we've come to equate success with not needing anyone. Many of us are willing to extend a helping hand, but we're very reluctant to reach out for help when we need it ourselves. It's as if we have divided the world into "those who offer help" and "those who need help." The truth is that we are both" (p. 20).
On Belonging
"...Fitting in and belonging are not the same thing, and, in fact, fitting in gets in the way of belonging. Fitting in is about assessing a situation and becoming who you need to be to be accepted. Belonging, on the other hand, doesn't require us to change who we are; it requires us to be who we are" (p. 25).
"Belonging is the innate human desire to be a part of something larger than us... true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world" (p. 26).
On Spirituality
"Spirituality is recognizing and celebrating that we are all inextricably connected to each other by a power greater than all of us, and that our connection to that power and to one another is grounded in love and compassion. Practicing spirituality brings a sense of perspective, meaning, and purpose to our lives" (p. 64)
On the Light Within
"People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and sine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within" (p. 74 - quoted from Elisabeth Kubler-Ross).
On Slowing Down
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