Oh, really? I hadn't noticed...
“What if you had a happy ending and didn’t notice? Sylvia made a mental note. Don’t miss the happy ending.” (Page 243) This was interesting. Are we too busy waiting for “happily ever after” to actually live it? Should we try to live our happy ending rather than look for it? Would this ensure a happy ending or just lead to a life of delusion?
posted by MamaChristy at
8:14 PM
8 Comments:
OK, I'm hogging space here, so I'll just respond to this quickly and then turn over the site ...
I LOVED this line. Loved it. Thank you for bringing it up. I think we all have happy endings every day that we never notice. If you ever pretend your life is a movie/novel and imagine it's reaching the 90-minute/250pp limit, there are so many isolated moments where everything wraps up and pauses before the next adventure. In a movie, the music would swell and we'd know to look around at how wonderful everything was. But in life, we're too busy thinking about what's next. One of the big things I've learned from yoga is to 'sip in the silence.' Every moment is a photo. Or something like that. I tend to forget it until someone brings this up!
Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans, per John Lennon. I've always liked that.
And this is only distantly related, but I read an article once in which the writer asked, "Have you ever noticed how people on TV never watch TV?" It stuck with me.
I'm going to go have a little happy ending this afternoon. Happy Saturday, y'all!
jenni
By
JenniNapa, at 1:43 PM
Oh good lord ... i just read this and boy do I sound sanctimonious. Please understand that if i was speaking this, it wouldn't sound nearly so high-minded but kind of naive and well-meaning instead. I promise I'm not as much of a purist snot as I sound there.
(:
By
JenniNapa, at 1:44 PM
Jenni - Did you really think you could be the first to answer and NOT sound at least a little sanctimonious? :)
No really, this is true and exactly what I think that Fowler was trying to point out. In a book, things get all wrapped up in a bow. As there are fewer and fewer pages in a book, less and less time in a movie, we know what to expect. In life it's harder to distinguish.
Anyone else?
By
MamaChristy, at 7:01 PM
I've got comments galore about this one particular sentence...but for now I'll keep it to one... this is THE SENTENCE THAT MADE THE BOOK WORTH READING.
Yes, I typed it in caps because I was speaking loudly....
Jenni - I did not read your comments as santimonious at all. Just a heart felt response to a question.
I'll post more later...
I'm having a very happy ending to a very happy day.
Cheers,
By
E, at 12:15 AM
This is something that I'm struggling with in my own life. I often get bogged down by day-to-day living that I sometimes forget to enjoy the positive things that we learn from difficulties.
For example, as some of you know from reading my blog, the majority of my first year in New York has been a bit difficult. When I call friends back in Chicago to tell them about what I'm going through, they always say, "but you live in NEW YORK. Just enjoy it!!"
And, you know what? They're right. Sometimes life's difficulties -- my sister and her husband are raising children, I'm looking for a new job, my friend Maria is dealing with an asshole boyfriend, etc. etc. -- blind us to life's happy endings. My sister is preparing two of the world's next best men, I'm starting a new chapter in my life in NYC and my friend Maria is learning to love herself more.
Maybe it's all about perspective ...
By
Twanna A. Hines | FUNKYBROWNCHICK.com, at 5:40 AM
Well said, Stolie. I think perspective is exactly the right way to, um, look at this idea! :)
By
MamaChristy, at 10:14 AM
"So maybe this is the best line of the book because it helps me to refocus my thoughts on all the happy endings in my life - even if they may not be what I'm looking for right now."
Pink - I just loved how you hit the nail on the head "even if thay might not be whatn I'm looking for right now".... that made me laugh and I totally agree.... how many times do we "get what we're looking for" -- even when shopping for shoes!!!!!
Hugs,
ET
By
E, at 3:34 PM
Can I have an Amen, my shoe sisters??
(:
jenni
By
JenniNapa, at 10:12 AM
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