get a life

I'm supposed to be working on my book, but I'm giving myself five minutes tops to post this. Anyway, we've established that I'm an Anna Quindlen fan. Last night, I devoured her A Short Guide to a Happy Life and my oh my. So much humility and wisdom there, but one thing struck me above all others, one three-word piece of advice even better than "butt in chair." The gem?

Get a life.

Anna elaborates of course. And beautifully:

So I suppose the best piece of advice I could give anyone is pretty simple: get a life. A real life, not a manic pursuit of the next promotion, the bigger paycheck, the larger house. Do you think you'd care so very much about those things if you developed an aneurysm one afternoon, or found a lump in your breast while in the shower?

Get a life in which you notice the smell of salt water pushing itself on a breeze over the dunes, a life in which you stop and watch how a red-tailed hawk circles over a pond and a stand of pines. Get a life in which you pay attention to the baby as she scowls with concentration when she tries to pick up a Cheerio with her thumb and first finger.

Yes. Yes. Yes, right?

Anyway, had to share this hauntingly good bit of brilliance. And my question for you (and for me) is this:

Do you have a life, a real life of the aforementioned breed, or are you still working on it? And are you working on it? Are you willing to start working on it? Just a few totally light and airy questions to get you thinking big today. :)

here year3

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