I am a huge fan of Anne Lamott.  (If you’ve never heard of her, you can link to her inspiring TEDtalk here.)

When I think of that imaginary dinner party I would love to host, with some of the most amazing people sitting at my table, she is up there at the top of the list.

I love her humour, her wisdom and her grace, and it was that wisdom that helped me through some of the worst times following my divorce. 

She’s written both fiction and non-fiction, and when I was looking for one or two quotes to put on my blog I found so many.  Here are just a few.  I hope they inspire you as much as they inspired – and continue to inspire – me.

The three things I cannot change are the past, the truth, and you.

Peace is joy at rest.  Joy is peace on its feet.

Never compare your insides to everyone else’s outsides.

Rest and laughter are the most spiritual and subversive acts of all.  Laugh, rest and slow down.

If there is one door in the castle you have been told not to go through, you must.  Otherwise, you’ll just be rearranging furniture in rooms you’ve already been in.

When people have seen you at your worst, you don’t have to put on the mask as much.

Forgiveness means it finally becomes unimportant that you hit back.

Expectations are resentments waiting to happen.

It was not facing what life dealt that made you crazy, but rather trying to set life straight where it was unstraightable.

Sometimes this human stuff is slimy and pathetic… but better to feel it and talk about it and walk through it than to spend a lifetime being silently poisoned.

I was reminded of the four Immutable Laws of the Spirit: Whoever is present are the right people.  Whenever it begins is the right time.  Whatever happens is the only thing that could have happened.  And when it’s over, it’s over.

Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.

I’m here to be me, which is taking a great deal longer than I had hoped.