Saturday, December 11, 2010

The Critical Importance of Flexibility


Time you enjoyed wasting was not wasted.
(attributed to John Lennon, T. S. Eliot, and Bertrand Russell)

...sleep, I find, is a chore when I need it,
but an indescribable luxury when it’s time to get up...

I am a deeply religious nonbeliever—
this is a somewhat new kind of religion.
Albert Einstein

...similarly, nothing makes writing harder
than having good, solid reasons to write...

Almost all of my epiphanies over the previous fifteen years
had been the same one: I don’t know.
Stephen Cope

...the worst thing to do if you’re trying to be more flexible,
it turns out, is to try to be more flexible...

12 comments:

Bob Weisenberg said...

That's a great collection of quotes, Jay, including two of my own personal superheroes (I don't have many), Einstein and Cope.

Thanks,

Bob

writeonyoga said...

Love the Einstein quote, and how true about sleep.

Anna Guest-Jelley said...

Lovely! I especially love the Cope quote.

Brooks Hall said...

I wonder if it might be helpful to open to opportunities for flexibility. You have to have some kind of obstacle to “try” to be flexible. I know I have to have something tangible to do in trying to meet a situation differently than I might have in the past. So seeing a reasonable new choice is key.

nothingprofound said...

Love these, Jay. Here's a few more:

"Nothing makes me more pessimistic than the obligation not to be pessimistic."-Ionesco

"It is only shallow people who don't judge by appearances."-Oscar Wilde

"A reason for living can be a great obstacle in life."-Marty Rubin

Lana Gramlich said...

When I saw Escher I knew I had to come. Great bunch of quotes.

the walking man said...

I am very flexible jay. I just don't bend to easily,

Laura said...

this revelation of not trying to be flexible...effortless effort... is the root of flexibility my wise friend...and so you are well on your way to softening, bending, and opening your heart to possibilities you cannot predict...the more "I don't know" mind becomes cellular, soulular...the more pliable and transparent (also a healthy quality, I think) you continue to become....yes becoming...it is always about becoming while being right here right now, at the very same time:)

earthtoholly said...

Time you enjoyed wasting was not wasted. Sounds like a rationalization, but I'm all about rationalizing, as well as wasting time, so...yay!

What a perfect observation of sleep and its trickery.

And it's no fun, nor productive, to attempt flexibilty all by your lonesome.

Eleanor said...

Much easier to sleep on the yoga room floor when I'm meant to be focussed on my breath than in bed at 2am.

Eleanor said...

what do you think?

Melinda said...

Lennon and Einstein--it makes absolute perfect sense and the two quotes should marry each other.

I came buy to officially "like" you Jay!

And now I have! :P

Melinda