I remember when people used to think I was smart. I remember when people used to think my brain was useful. Damaged by water, sure. And ready to seizure at any moment. But still useful, and maybe even a little bit beautiful and sacred and magical.
Interpretation
The quote reflects on the perception of intelligence and the inherent value of one's mind despite its flaws.
In this quote, Sherman Alexie reminisces about how others once viewed him as intelligent and capable. He acknowledges that while his mind may have been damaged and unpredictable, it still holds intrinsic value and beauty. This perspective encourages appreciation of individuality and the complexities that make each person's mind unique, suggesting that even perceived imperfections can contribute to a deeper sense of worth and magic in one's intellect.
In practice
During a discussion on mental health at a conference, this quote could help emphasize the importance of recognizing the worth of individuals despite their challenges.
Gordie, the white boy genius, gave me this book by a Russian dude named Tolstoy, who wrote, 'Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.' Well, I hate to argue with a Russian genius, but Tolstoy didn't know Indians, and he didn't know that all Indian families are unhappy for the same exact reasons: the frikkin' booze.
My wife was the first romantic partner who understood both American and native parts of me - not so much the positive stuff, but the damage.
I draw because words are too unpredictable. I draw because words are too limited. If you speak and write in English, or Spanish, or Chinese, or any other language, then only a certain percentage of human beings will get your meaning. But when you draw a picture everybody can understand it. If I draw a cartoon of a flower, then every man, woman, and child in the world can look at it and say, "That's a flower.
We all have to find our own ways to say good-bye.
I write books for teenagers because I vividly remember what it felt like to be a teen facing everyday and epic dangers. I don't write to protect them. It's far too late for that. I write to give them weapons-in the form of words and ideas-that will help them fight their monsters. I write in blood because I remember what it felt like to bleed.
A lot of people have no idea that right now Y.A. (young adult). is the Garden of Eden of literature.
Of all the things that can have an effect on your future, I believe personal growth is the greatest.
If you want to be a good strategist, you can never just go off a principle you read in a book. You need to adapt what you do to the situation; no rule of thumb is true all the time.
Others may try to feed our ego, but it is up to us to constrain it.
If your self-esteem really does depend on how you look you're always going to be insecure. There's no way you can get around it because you are going to age. Even if you get that perfect body you're going to get older and older and older. You can't avid it. So you have to somehow, at some point, take control and sift the focus and decide who you are, what you can contribute to the world, what you do and say, is so much more important than how you look.
Nobody will laugh long who deals much with opium: its pleasures even are of a grave and solemn complexion.
Time and trouble will tame an advanced young woman, but an advanced old woman is uncontrollable by any earthly force.
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