Alright you will all have to bear with me. You see, I am a person that thinks and thinks and think about things... but when asked to speak her thoughts, does so with um's and blanks and stares, and looses all train of thought. So, a list is how I shall work this post- because I am a fan of lists- and if possible, i will highlight this list, because I am a fan of colorful lists. :)
1. I agree with Johanna, I am so glad I read the introduction to see how she was choosing to structure it. Not so much because I am a fan of structure, I just love knowing background information. I love knowing just a little bit more to help it sink in that much more. So yes, I'm a fan.
2. I love the writing. She is down to earth, yet a smart little sassy girl with her own insecurities, someone every lady can relate too!
3. This book is starting to make me want to learn Italian. I catch myself saying the quotes outloud, trying to have an Italian accent while my husband stares at me across the room in confusion.
4. I should have blogged sooner , because I had many more thoughts before this, but see ( i didn't make a list) and therefore, they have vanished.But the part I am at right now, she is talking about really understanding pleasure for all that it is. How in Italy, they applauded her for that and yet in America we seem to learn something different. It caused me to ask the question:
" Where do I stand with pleasure? Should i worry so much about what pleases me, or worry about pleasing the Lord? Or mayyybee... when I desire to please the Lord, my pleasure becomes what His was in the first place.."
She states ' generally speaking Americans have an inability to relax into sheer pleasure. Ours is an entertainment-seeking nation, but not necessarily a pleasure seeking one. Americans spend billions to keep themselves amused with everything from porn to theme parks to wars, but that's not exactly the same thing as quiet enjoyment. Americans work harder and longer and more stressful hours than anyone in the world today. But we seem to like it. Of course we all work to hard, then we get burned out and have to spend the whole weekend in our pj's, eating cereal straight out of the box staring at the TV in a mild coma. Americans don't really know how to do nothing. ..... Planet advertising in America orbits completely around the need to convince the uncertain consumer that yes, you have actually warranted a special treat. This Bud's for you! You deserve a break today! because you're worth it! You've come a long way, baby! And the insecure consumer thinks, yeah!! Then the reactionary binge, followed by remorse."
I have found myself falling into these same lies and traps (especially with Kit Kats, ohhhh they get me!). It's sooooo interesting to me how different cultures function, different nations, different people's.
It raises the question, what is pleasure to us? Where do we find it?
If you were told that you had the week off of work and you were supposed to use that week doing whatever gave you the most pleasure. The absolute most pleasure , where would you go? What would you do? Would you really even know?
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Julie- I agree with your post. I know I have difficulty just enjoying the pleasures of life.
ReplyDeleteEvery time I have a break from school, I generally end up doing nothing but watch TV/movies, and inevitably end up feeling guilty that I wasn't more productive. I can't seem to find a healthy balance of enjoying the break yet being productive enough to not feel too lazy.