When I read a novel, I want to gain some tidbit about how to live, and especially in the second half of life. Currently I’m under the influence of a wonderful novel, The Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg. It’s about a recently widowed 55-year-old woman, and there’s so much wisdom in the story.
Here’s one: about halfway through, one of the characters tells the widow to try to do one thing every day just for her own enjoyment. The widow says, “Every night I count my blessings.” The friend says, “I’m not talking about things that happen to you. I’m talking about things you make happen. I’m talking about purposefully doing one thing that brings you happiness every single day, in a very conscious way. It builds up your arsenal…”
Isn’t that a smart piece of advice for life in general? Here are some more. Most of them are related to grieving a significant loss, but consider them metaphorically if you must:
- “I saw in a way I never had before the beauty and diversity of our earnest labor on the earth, and also our ultimate separateness. This helped my pain metamorphose into something less personal and more universal and natural…”
- “Still, every now and then a quick thrill raced up my spine in the form of a thought: I am my own again. Sorrow that lay pooled inside me gave over to a kind of exhilaration in those moments; the relief was stunning.”
- “You think you get used to death in the dying. But after the dying is done, you see how the end is the beginning.”
- “Perhaps my ‘job’ now was to learn what I needed to learn. John (her late husband) and I had often talked about how focused our culture was on distraction, about how ill suited we were to staying with things, following them through in a respectful and thorough way…”
- “It came to me how necessary the near presence of others was in keeping me civilized and sane; I could see how quickly I might become a woman gnawing a chicken leg over the kitchen sink for her dinner.”
- “But did you ever notice how after you look at art for a long time you come out onto the street and see only art?” (an argument for making more time for galleries and art museums).
- “He’d appreciated…manual labor, saying he like to do work that was outside his head, for a change.”
And lastly:
- “It’s true that when someone you love dies, part of you dies, too. And then you must be reborn. And many people were reborn; they suffered through their pain and emerged victorious: their love for the lost one revered but put away, their lives now open to a separate course.”
This is a great read because it’s empowering. The underlying message is one of hope; although the main character is flattened by grief (and she describes existential loneliness so well), she decides to value her life and keep going.
It’s not perfect–she dropped a couple of story lines and there are some implausible aspects to it, but still, it’s great. I made so many highlights I bought the paperback so I could keep it on my bookshelf forever. I definitely recommend it. Now go play. Happy Friday!
Sandra Nachlinger says
I’ve read and enjoyed several books by this author, but haven’t seen this one. It’s now on my TBR list. Thank you, Lynne, for the suggestion. I’ll be watching for those gems (and more!) as I read.
Pat says
Lynne, I have long been a fan of Elizabeth Berg. You have done a great job of gleaning so many treasures from the pages of a Year of Pleasures. This line resonates with me and is empowering for all of us, “I’m talking about things you make happen.”
Judy Scognamillo says
Great one, Lynne. I especially loved and have found so true “after the dying is done, you see how the end is the beginning”.
Sue Shoemaker says
A timely post, Lynne…
I’m off for a day in the city to visit the DIA (Detroit Institute of Arts). I will also be making a visit to a restaurant that may be included as part of the itinerary for an adult tour I will be facilitating in the city in June.
Tomorrow I will be dancing in the first of three recitals for the 2015 season. Last weekend I was in NYC and the weekend before, in Chicago, working as a tour director with high school bands.
Yesterday afternoon I spent some quality play-time with one of my sons and three of my little grandchildren.
“I’m talking about things you make happen.”
Now you go play too…Sue