thinking thursday. on friday.

September 2, 2011 in Uncategorized

[mind]

Do you need some encouragement? A fire lit under you? A nudge? Here are 5 manifestos for life that might do the trick.

I just love the very idea of this blog: Typo of the Day for Librarians.

Being an American literature student in college and graduate school, this made me laugh right out loud.

[body]

Take a moment to see these photographs and read the story of a young girl who survived unimaginable horror: "For the first seven years of her life, Dani never saw the sun, felt the wind or tasted solid food. She was kept in a closet in a Plant City house, cloistered in darkness, left in a dirty diaper, fed only with a bottle. 'She was a feral child, said Carolyn Eastman of the Tampa Heart Gallery. 'We'd never seen a case like that.'"

The one who got away.

[soul]

My friend Amy McCracken (Richmond from 3x3x365) pretty much rocks. Not only did she foster our new dog Perry for us and save his life when he got really sick before coming to live with us, but the girl can write. And she has a great big heart. Here she is, rocking an interview with Colleen Wainwright who is raising $50,000 to help girls realize how amazing they are through writing. I hope you'll donate to the cause if you can. Every little bit helps. Truly.

It is a damn shame the sense of ownership some people feel over the lives of others. When I get hate mail after posting something in support of gay marriage, or when someone questions my parenting skills, or when I get a note telling me I am just too damned happy, I can identify with what these folks are experiencing. Sometimes I feel like screaming at people to write their own blog, to tell the world how they feel and what they believe, instead of sitting in judgment of the beliefs of other people, but I simply say "thank you for the feedback!" and move on.

My favorite quote of the week: "If you're in a situation where you are kind of not allowed to be normal, where you're not treated as normal somehow even though you are normal, you got to go away and find a place to sit for a minute and try to make sense of stuff." -Johnny Depp

About Patti Digh

Patti Digh is an author, speaker, and educator who builds learning communities and gets to the heart of difficult topics. Her work over the last three decades has focused on diversity, inclusion, social justice, and living and working mindfully. She has developed diversity strategies and educational programming for major nonprofit and corporate organizations and has been a featured speaker at many national and international conferences.

7 comments to " thinking thursday. on friday. "


KimMailhot

September 2, 2011 AT 10:26AM

here’s to taking the moment, and finding a place to make sense out of stuff.
Have a wonderful holiday weekend, Writer-Lady !

Cynthia

September 2, 2011 AT 10:41AM

ok, I did have to laugh that you get emails saying you are just too damn happy! Or maybe I should cry for the soul that must attack another person’s happiness.

Love you Patti Digh, your happiness inspires me. Your parenting inspires me. And your support of people, gay or otherwise, inspires me.

PennyA

September 2, 2011 AT 2:04PM

Thank you! I never read your missives without going away with a little nugget of fabulousness! Todays nugget: the 5 Manifestos link *priceless!* I am saddened by the notion that YOU, of all people, would receive ‘hate mail’ *seriously!?!?* …please know that you are loved and appreciated. Sincerely.

Amy McCracken

September 2, 2011 AT 4:03PM

Thanks, love. I hope you are too perfect today. You deserve it.

Amos

Ruth

September 3, 2011 AT 7:40AM

?”My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.” Jack Layton

Those are the words written in a letter to Canadians by politician Jack Layton, days before his death, and to be published in the event of. He stood for the same things you do, Patti. He was a very good man. He was loved, and is loved by many Canadians. It is a shame to think that he most likely received the same negative and hateful messages that you receive from those who stand in judgment. If only they could find love, hope and optimism, instead of focusing on their anger, fear and despair, then they too, could change the world.

You are loved by so many. The many who do not judge you, but walk away with something good with every word you write.

Kathryn at Good Life Road

September 3, 2011 AT 12:21PM

For the manifestos link alone I thank you for this post. Your blog has become one of my first stops.

With gratitude,
Kathryn

Sally

September 6, 2011 AT 9:53AM

Thank you for the librarian blog. My mom would have loved it.