Life with most teenagers was like having a low-grade bladder infection. It hurts, but you had to tough it out.
Anne LamottRead
I used to love to untangle chains when I was a child. I had thin, busy fingers, and I never gave up. Perhaps there was a psychiatric component to my concentration but like much of my psychic damage, this worked to everyone's advantage.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the persistence and focus found in childhood activities, highlighting how challenges can lead to unexpected strengths.
Anne Lamott's quote suggests that the simple act of untangling chains as a child was not only a playful endeavor but also a demonstration of her determination and focus. She acknowledges that this ability to concentrate, while potentially linked to her psychological struggles, ultimately became a beneficial trait that served both her and those around her. This perspective offers a deeper insight into how our difficulties can develop unique strengths and skills.
Themes
PersistenceChildhoodFocusStrengthChallenges
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about perseverance in the face of life's challenges.
More from Anne Lamott
All quotes →Or you might shout at the top of your lungs or whisper into your sleeve, "I hate you, God." That is a prayer too, because it is real, it is truth, and maybe it is the first sincere thought you've had in months.
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Your problem is how you are going to spend this one odd and precious life you have been issued. Whether you're going to spend it trying to look good and creating the illusion that you have power over people and circumstances, or whether you are going to taste it, enjoy it and find out the truth about who you are.
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It is hard to remember that you are a cherished spiritual being when you're burping up apple fritters and Cheetos.
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Gorgeous, amazing things come into our lives when we are paying attention: mangoes, grandnieces, Bach, ponds. This happens more often when we have as little expectation as possible. If you say, "Well, that's pretty much what I thought I'd see," you are in trouble. At that point you have to ask yourself why you are even here. [...] Astonishing material and revelation appear in our lives all the time. Let it be. Unto us, so much is given. We just have to be open for business.
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...because when people have seen you at their worst, you don't have to put on the mask as much.
Anne LamottRead
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