Patty Mayeux Blog

I’m rereading Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. It’s primarily about writing and how to establish good practices, but it’s also about how to live life. She says perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor. Even the enemy of the people. Lamott reminds us that clutter and mess and imperfection are signs that life is being lived. I’m okay with messy and have learned to lean into imperfect. Life is a wild journey through trials and twists but also celebrations and amazements. 

Instead of racing to a picture-perfect finish, focus on being alive.

When she is stuck in her writing, Lamott reminds herself to live as if she is dying because in truth, “we are all terminal on this bus.” When one lives as if this is their last day, they can experience real presence. Lamott says it is a way to learn to spend “big, round hours.” Maybe that means to celebrate the fullness of each moment, like filling a deflated balloon with wonder until the surface becomes taut and shiny, almost to bursting. There is beauty in this present moment. Celebrating each one can fill our world with big, round hours of living out loud, every messy imperfect moment.