You know the old adage: Plant an expectation, reap a disappointment.
Elizabeth GilbertRead
It's not an accident that both my sister and I are writers. Our parents created an accidental Petri dish. My family has great storytellers, and I grew up in a very funny, conversational house and didn't have television. This small family farm was a bubble world that didn't have much to do with reality.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The environment we grow up in shapes our abilities and passions.
In this quote, Elizabeth Gilbert reflects on how her upbringing in a storytelling-rich environment influenced her and her sister to become writers. She highlights the importance of family dynamics and the unique circumstances of their upbringing, which fostered creativity and communication in the absence of modern distractions like television.
Themes
StorytellingFamilyCreativityWritersUpbringing
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a seminar about the influence of family on career choices.
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But never again use another person's body or emotions as a scratching post for your own unfulfilling yearnings.
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