Week of 9/10
6 years ago
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Talk to Me
One of the Middle Eastern books is called Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi. It is fascinating and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in Islamic culture and literature. I have marked so many passages and turned down so many corners because I am just waiting for someone to come along who wants to talk to me about a book. :) (I know, I might be waiting a LONG time.) Anyway, here is the passage that reminded me of you all at this point in your life journeys:
It is written at a point when the author is considering leaving Iran for the United States.
"You get a strange feeling when you're about to leave a place, I told him, like you'll not only miss the people you love but you'll miss the person you are now at this time and this place, because you'll never be this way ever again."
What do you think?
Posted by A. Davis at 11:49 AM
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5 comments:
First of all, I ADORE this book. Seriously. I could analyze it every day for the rest of the semester and I would be perfectly alright with that! That passage is an amazing one. It is so deep and so applicable, but I feel like people don't really think about it, especially at my age. Personally, it's a battle. Part of me is absolutely dying to leave this little ol' town I've called home for the past fifteen and a half years, but the other part is terrified. What if I become someone totally different and then all of my old friends hate me? What if nobody at the place I'm going likes who I am? HOW do I grow up? I don't know if I'm the only one, but these things terrify me.. However, I think it's a good thing. It is true....you'll never be the same person you are at this time ever again. And sure, there will be many things that are missed! But it's all a part of growing. We're meant for SO much more than what we're doing, and if we never take chances simply because we're afraid of losing ourselves, how are we supposed to grow to our fullest potential? Change is a good thing, and inevitable. If everyone was the same for the rest of their lives, then things would get pretty boring! I say take the leap. Sure, it's terrifying. But if you never do it, you'll never know what you were missing!
I know I kind of went off on a tangent, but I related all that in my mind somehow! I'm also always willing to discuss books with you :) Reccommend some good reading for me! You haven't failed me yet....except with Half Broke Horses. :) Just kidding!
Ohhh I really really love this book too. Like Olivia, I could spend the rest of the year on it and be okay... anyway, I've never really experienced the feeling while leaving. I always find myself missing it after the fact, once it's all said and done. Or when I'm looking back at my life or on my memories, I think 'hey, I wasn't so bad back then.'
I haven't read this book, but the passage is very true. I know for me, anytime I've had to leave a place, I've always known exactly what was waiting for me. Now, I don't. It is extremely scary, and I'm super mixed about how I feel about it. On one hand, I'm ready. I'm ready to be an adult and take responsibility for my life. But at the same time, I'm scared of what that means-- that no one is there to bail me out if I screw up.
However, mostly I'm excited. I'm excited to start pursuing a career, and get ready for a life doing what I love!
I didn't read this book, but I love the passage. It pretty accurately portrays my thoughts about life right now. There's a line in Kabul Beauty School that says, "The culture was changing so much more slowly than their dreams were." I feel like this is how I'm supposed to feel right now; I'm supposed to have all of these dreams and anticipations and coming-of-age revelations, but really it's the other way around. My surroundings are all changing so much more rapidly than my dreams are, that I wish I could just step back and take a breather from life. When I think about how close I am to leaving all of this behind, I can't help but to become frazzled and distraught. Like the Crystal Merchant in The Alchemist, I am entirely content with my life as it is right now, and I don't want anything to change (granted, I'll probably feel differently in about ten minutes because of my girly teenager emotions). But I finally like who I am right now, and I'm kind of clinging to her with all I have in me. I don't want to be anyone but who I currently am.
I haven't really experienced this yet. Going to college will be the first big change I have ever had. I've lived in the same house in the same town for my whole life. Looking back, I have changed a lot as person, but I never noticed I was changing. I didn't realize anything was gone that I should miss. I have a pretty clear image of the person I want to become and I can recall times when I was closer to that person and times when I have been further away. I don't regret the person I have been, but I don't miss the person I was either. I feel like overall I am closer to the person I want to be, and for that I am glad and thankful.
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