books

lately, i've been trying to stay away from books that tell me how to do things: how to do yoga, how to paint, how to be healthy, how to be happy, etc., because they often make me feel stifled. they literaly make it me feel out of breath, maybe bc i'm putting so much pressure on myself to conform to the "ideal" they present. often, these kinds of books describe their particular way of doing / being and something inside me rebels, knowing that there's more to life that that.

but,
yesterday i saw this book at thomasyn's house, a book i had heard and read about. it's called "writing down the bones", by natalie goldberg. it's abut writing. i borrowed it and have been reading it and have to say that it's not making me feel bad at all. i actually find it very inspiring and refreshing. she has a very generous, open perspective on writng, and she passes no judgements. i feel that more that telling you how to write or what "good" writing is, she just talks about her experience, about how her life and writing draw on each other. so far, much of what she writes, and also how she writes, resonates with me. so i find myself inspired and empowered by her book, rather than passing judgements on myself and comparing myself to someone i'm not. her writing is simple and, i guess i'd call it universal, in the sense that it applies to antyhing, any endeavor one may chose to pursue, not only
writing. so if you're moved by this in any way, i definitely recommend checking out her book.