We see it in the body, that if you just give the body enough rest and comfort, it has remarkable self-healing capacities. Well, so does the spirit.
No sooner do we think we have assembled a comfortable life than we find a piece of ourselves that has no place to fit in.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the constant struggle of finding balance and fulfillment in our lives, suggesting that even when we achieve comfort, there remains an aspect of ourselves that feels unfulfilled.
Gail Sheehy's quote highlights the ongoing journey of self-discovery and the complexity of human existence. It suggests that life is not merely about achieving comfort or happiness; instead, it reveals the deeper layers of our identity that often go unacknowledged. As we strive for a comfortable life, we may encounter parts of ourselves that feel alienated or unfulfilled, prompting a continuous exploration of our true desires and needs.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
Use this quote in a personal development seminar to discuss the importance of self-exploration.
More from Gail Sheehy
All quotes →I was devastated when I got the review for my first book. The book came out a couple years before the women's movement broke through, and people were putting it down, asking, 'Why does the woman in this book need to get a divorce? Why can't she just shut up and be happy?'
A seasoned woman is spicy. She has been marinated in life experiences. Like a complex wine, she can be alternately sweet, tart, sparkling, mellow. She is both maternal and playful. Assured, alluring, and resourceful.
This is something caregivers have to understand: You have to ask for help. You have to realize that you deserve to ask for help. Because you need to keep on working on your own life.
I found that female pathfinders generally integrate characteristics commonly associated with being women - like the capacity to be intimate - with 'male' ones like ambition and courage.
Being a pathfinder is to be willing to risk failure and still go on.
Similar quotes
Life is really pretty tricky, and there's a lot of loss, and the longer you stay alive, the more people you lose whom you actually couldn't live without.
As an improviser, I always find it jarring when I meet someone in real life whose first answer is no. “No, we can’t do that.” “No, that’s not in the budget.” “No, I will not hold your hand for a dollar.” What kind of way is that to live?
Everyone has a story, and the story changes, and the more I can root into the truth of things - it's so hard - I don't think anyone ever really puts it all together. But somewhere along the way it all became fused.
As you walk down the fairway of life you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round.
Try to learn to breathe deeply, really to taste food when you eat, and when you sleep, really to sleep. Try as much as possible to be wholly alive with all your might, and when you laugh, laugh like hell. And when you get angry, get good and angry. Try to be alive. You will be dead soon enough.
Keep searchin’ for your mystery note on the universal piano of life.