Sunday, October 19, 2008

Think on!

Aside

Thanks to Gyles Brandreth for pointing out the following message from the Armenian/ Americam writer Willian Saroyan, who wrote during the Great Depression:-


‘Try to learn to breathe deeply, really to taste food when you eat, and when you sleep really to sleep. Try as much as possible to be wholly alive with all your might, and when you laugh, laugh like hell. And when you get angry, get good and angry. Try to be alive. You will be dead soon enough.’

23 comments:

Annie Wan said...

hear hear

Eryl Shields said...

To that I can add nothing. Except, perhaps, to say that any suggestion that I 'get good and angry' when I get angry is likely to make my husband, who thinks I get much more angry than is strictly necessary, rather anxious.

Pat said...

mei del: ain't it the truth?

Ms Scarlet said...

I like that very much. I'm going to type it out and pin it up somewhere where I can see it all the time.
Sx

Jade of the Jungle said...

PI, found you via Scarlet Blue and may I say what a glorious blog!Perhaps it just so happens that I stumbled on here on a day that I am feeling the sentiments of Saroyan.

Jade

P.S. a friend of mine sent a clipping of Fat Boy in the post to me, what a tremendous tale. What I found most astounding was despite him clearly suffering from a surfeit of apples, the lady who discovered him decided to feed him more of the stuff. Glorious!

Kim Ayres said...

If only I could really really sleep.

I have no idea what it's like to wake up feeling refreshed.

Other than that, it sounds like goo advice :)

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Such great advice! I love Saroyan....! This is a wonderful quote to read on this lovely Sunday....! A GREAT Reminder!
But, like Kim....I have no idea what it is like to wake up refreshed....lol....Never, in my whole life has that happened to me...BUT, I embrace it and accept that THAT is the way it is, for me....The Rest? INDEED!

Pat said...

Eryl: I have the same problem. It would be preferable if I could act rage instead of really feeling it. I'm trying. Very - some would say!

Scarlet: on the fridge?

Jade: welcome! Drop in any time. Any friend of Scarlet...

Kim: I realised as I was typing it - easy to say. I do wish you could really sleep.

Dr Maroon said...

I couldn't care less whether Ayres sleeps or not. Guilty conscience probably.
As for Saroyen, what a philosophy!
Try telling that to a mother of three on the bones of her arse in a council house in Perth.
It's platitudes like this that cause unintentional wars.
Sorry Pat I'm pissed.
Causing an unintentional war is not a mortal sin.
Adultery is.

Kanani said...

I love Saroyan.
And yes, I agree!

Anonymous said...

I want to vote with all my might but I'm citizenified three days to late to register to vote in California. I feel like stapling some official's tongue. Now that would be living...

Pat said...

Doccie: did you have a difficult journey getting here?
I don't think we should under estimate the mother of three's ability to make the best of things or deprive her of the chance. Grumpiness aside: regarding adultery let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

Kanani: glad to hear it:)

Sam: it must be frustrating. I hope you get what you desire.

Anonymous said...

Here catching up, dear.

More later.

Cheers.

Pat said...

Naomi: I did wonder if you had ever come across him but think he was probably a different era- I'm not sure of his dates but you were hardly here in the Depression.
Like Kim I really feel for you not being able to sleep well. It is a hell of a burden.

Anonymous said...

This is completely my program!

"The essential one is not to live, but of well to live." Said Plato,

Live or stop living are the solutions of the imaginary ones! The existence is around us, side issue or elsewhere, but life is everywhere!

Anonymous said...

What a thing to think about, what a fantastic quote. Thanks for sharing you guys :o)

kenju said...

Such excellent advice for everyone!!

Krimo said...

Thanks for sharing, Pat.
When you get hungry, eat and eat well. And when you eat, drink and drink good wine. There's no time left for bad wine.

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

I'd like to idle very idly in a green field with cool breeze and mild sunshine.

Nea said...

I shall also be printing this out, thanks Pat.

I'm still working on the breathing part, then I shall move onto the eating and sleeping part. Strangely enough I don't think I need to work on the anger part;)

Pat said...

Randall: lovely to see you:)

Crabtree: I knew you would be like minded.

Kath: I hope the idea catches on.

Judy: your philosophy i wouldn't wonder.

Krimo: no more plonk for me then:)

GG: may I join you and we can shoot the breeze?

OldHorsetailSnake said...

I'd just as soon not, thank you.

Pat said...

Hoss: you old meanie!

Nea: difficult to believe but none of us are all sweetness and light.