I’m introducing a new blog series today! It’s called Remember this. It’s thoughts, quotes and inspiration that I want to remember—and you might, too.
I’m about to tell you how the idea for this new series came about. If that sounds boring, go ahead and skip this section and read the nice poem below the picture. Or stick with me, and we’ll talk about crazy details of my life no one ever even asked about, but I’m about to tell the story so shhhhhh.
I keep a lot of notes in Evernote. About everything. It’s how I sort my brain, honestly.
And a couple years ago I started a folder called “Remember This.” And I dropped a few favorite things in it—some quotes, mantras, poems and prayers that struck a chord, a funny memory, the results to my Enneagram assessment.
Over time, I added to it. A list of things I didn’t want to forget about my grandpa after he died. Things I want to remember about myself, but most importantly things about life. Things that are true about life that I want to remember, forever.
One time when I was having a rough day, and I stumbled across this folder of notes to myself.
And they made me remember. All of the things that are true no matter what. All the things I know about myself and about being a human, and the things that make me feel glad to be alive.
I was sharing my idea for this folder with a friend, who asked me to organize her notes in Evernote like mine (more on that later) and she liked it. She said she’d make one too.
And that was the first time I thought, hey, maybe this idea has legs. Maybe other people might like it besides me.
So I’m sharing some of the notes to myself that I never want to forget, in case you might be helped by remembering them, too.
This first one is a Rumi poem I think of all the time, particularly when I’m having a bad day (or week or month). It’s a nice reminder that none of them are here to stay, and, in fact, the point of being a human is to entertain them all then make way for the next one.
In good times and in bad, may you remember this.
The Guest House
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.~ Rumi (translation by Coleman Barks)
Happy Tuesday, lovelies!
Til next time,
xoxo
P.S. You can find other posts in the Remember this series here.
