I  heard Anne Lamott speak a few weeks ago at Mercer Island Presbyterian Church. She isn’t doing any speaking tours this year, but she made an exception and spoke here in Seattle so she could have an excuse to come visit a friend. I was thrilled when I heard she was speaking, as she’s been one of my favorite authors for years. I’ve probably read Bird by Bird and Traveling Mercies 5 times each.

These are the notes I took during the hour and a half talk.

“…but I let myself take notes anyway.”
-keep taking notes, even if you don’t know what they are for

1. It’s ok not to know more than you do right now.
-Everything you need to know for the now is already inside you
-You start where you are
-Driving at night, in the fog, and you can only see a few feet in front of you — remember that you can make the whole journey that way
-”Courage is fear that has said its prayers.”

2. The most profound thing youc an do on a daily basis is much, much less.
-make a list of things to do for the day, and immediately take 3 things off the list
-”No.” is a complete sentence
-”…said you would” is the worst reason to do anything
-The most incredible, revolutionary thing you can do in a day is to do less

3. Failures and mistakes and false starts are essential to the process.
-slow, slow, quick, quick

4. You get to ask for a lot of help.
-Listen to the feedback
-Write it all down

•••••••••••••••••••••••

As I’ve reflected on what Ms. Lamott said, I am reminded that the most beautiful things in the world are the most simple. In the last year of my life I have been taught by my close friends that one of the most important things in life is sharing good food and good wine with those you love. The lure of success or fame or financial accumulation can’t even come close to the glory that is to be shared in a meal with friends.

I am beginning to understand that the truest beauty lies in the simple. When I begin to feel myself over-analyzing, or working so hard that my body can’t keep up, I try to stop, breathe in deeply, out slowly, and remind myself that to do less is to be more. There is far too much in life to sit and bathe in, to fully rest in, that is missed if I am obsessed with the concept of more.

So I stop and I breathe. I take notes on the beautiful that I experience every day, and I remind myself that I am ok, that life is going to be ok, and that I have people around me that love me and a God holding me that is not going to let go.