Get Inspired
Posted by Anne
It’s a tough job, this “getting inspired” all the time to live Life in Pencil. All too often, the day-to-day minutiae of my life becomes commonplace, and I fail to notice the tiny moments of inspiration that crop up in the most ordinary of places. Those Life in Pencil moments slip into the background, and I’m back to my old tricks—planning my life and denying myself the opportunity to rewrite it, revise it, and live it.
And so, I need a little help. I need people and events outside of me to demonstrate a Life in Pencil. Thank goodness for the media. If you haven’t noticed yet, there’s a new section to peruse at our blog these days. The “Get Inspired” section is Elizabeth’s and my attempt to share the multitude of media we read or watch that captures the true meaning of Life in Pencil. These are the articles, the books, the films, and the blogs that give us a glimpse of the people, places, and events that exemplify a Life in Pencil. These are the stories of people who rewrite their lives in big and small ways, or people who simply show they understand. This is our inspiration. In this new section, you’ll find…
Articles: Elizabeth is the article queen. A faithful reader of the New York Times, she’s the only person I know besides my mother who sends me newspaper clips in the mail…and I love it. Take a look at the articles that have inspired our “deep thoughts” about Life in Pencil.
Books: Fiction or non-fiction, classic or fluff, we can all learn something about Life in Pencil from books. We’ve highlighted books chock full of characters and stories that remind us what it means to rewrite life…for the better.
Movies: Film is what does it for me. A lifelong movie nut, I discover worlds and lives I want to emulate through the visual escape of film. And these stories are rife with dilemmas, conflicts, and soul-searching characters.
Blogs: Oh, the inspiration we find through each other. Elizabeth and I are constantly impressed and amazed by the unintentional Life in Pencil posts that we stumble across in the blogging world.
Now…we need your help. While Elizabeth and I are bookworms and film buffs, we haven’t seen or read it all. Do you have a favorite book or film that you believe captures Life in Pencil? Did you read an article just the other day that you need to share? Share the link! Leave a comment here or e-mail us and we’ll add your ideas to our Get Inspired library. Let’s learn from each other. Again, there’s only so much we can do on our own.
No, I’m serious. Go to the Get Inspired section and tell us what we’re missing!
May 26th, 2010 at 7:18 am
I just love inspirational quotes/movies/blogs/books/stories/etc. I think it is just so important to look for and notice little bits of inspiration in our every day lives – it keeps us moving forward with enthusiasm and hope.
I am currently reading “The Happiness Project” but I see that it’s already on your list. One of my favorite books that I’ve read recently (besides “Eat, Pray, Love” which is also on the list) is “A Homemade Life” by Molly Wizenberg, the author of Orangette. I don’t know for sure if the book itself represents Life in Pencil, but I have never felt like I was living in pencil quite so much as I did when I was reading that book. When I was reading it, there was nothing else in the world I would have rather been doing (except maybe eating some of her pound cake…).
May 26th, 2010 at 8:37 am
I heartily second Katie’s nomination – the author of Orangette was planning a serious career when she realized that what she really loved was cooking, and writing about cooking. Result – a hit blog, and now a book. And she met her husband when he commented on her blog. A Homemade Life is indeed a perfect example of Life in Pencil.
May 26th, 2010 at 8:47 am
Great addition, ladies! consider it added!
May 26th, 2010 at 9:21 am
Barbara Kingsolver’s “The Bean Trees” is a great book. And the protagonist is a shining example of Life in Pencil. That’s all I have right now, but I’ll keep thinking!
May 26th, 2010 at 9:27 am
I’m really excited about a book that came out yesterday—and landed in my hands instantly thanks to the Kindle.
“The New Good Life: Living Better Than Ever In An Age of Less” is John Robbins’ look at lowering spending while raising quality of life. He says, “It’s about the joy of living with a purpose larger than consumption. It’s about living less from image and more from the creative spark of your own spirit. It’s about expanding the love and laughter in your home rather than increasing the square footage of your home.”
I love the Russell Crowe movie “The Good Year” – my idea of a good life!
May 26th, 2010 at 10:31 am
Ooh, so excited to spend some quality time with your “Get Inspired” list. What a treasure trove!
May 26th, 2010 at 10:32 am
And I’ll second Nikki about “The Good Year.” A really endearing movie – and not like a typical Russell Crowe film
May 26th, 2010 at 11:45 pm
I love the movie “As Good As It Gets” and I think it is filled with LiP moments!