Personal Growth
Strict Followers
Trying to follow in the footsteps of the masters, but it’s a lot harder than it looks because even though they had the same size feet as us, they weren’t looking down the whole time while they walked to make sure they were doing it right.
Stress Management
I can imagine it working out perfectly, I said. I can’t, she said & I said no wonder you’re so stressed.
Stress Reduction
I have so much less stress, he said, now that I’ve given up on ambition.
Straight Forward
Start here & go until you die, he said. What’s so complicated about that?
Status
I don’t wear stuff to impress people, she said. I can’t afford it yet.
Standards
Won’t drink a cheap red no matter how much they threaten him.
Songs to Herself
She waved at all the people on the trains & later, when she saw they didn’t wave back, she started singing songs to herself & it went that way the whole day & she couldn’t remember having a better time in her life.
Special Container
This is a special container for keeping lies that you tell yourself
& it doesn’t let in any light or air otherwise they start to go bad
& there’s nothing else you can do but throw them out.
Solid Effort
It’s taken me a long time to get here, he said, so I don’t really care if it’s wrong.
Smart Exercise
If you were smart, you’d probably spend more time stretching, he said
& I said, If I were really smart, I’d probably spend more time just sitting in the shade drinking lemonade
Slow Change
prepared for most every eventuality if it doesn’t happen too fast
Sin Box
Three stories: Variations on a sin theme 1.) I see stuff like this a lot in my dreams, so I decided it should at least be doing something useful while I figure out what it means. 2.) I’ve tried to keep my sins organized over the years. That way I can correct it quickly if I find I’m missing out on something good. 3.) This box could probably put a curse on someone who believed in that stuff, like a burglar maybe. Personally, I don’t believe in curses, but I don’t think I’d take anything from a box that looked like this either just to be safe.
Sing Along
Ever since I found out I was schizophrenic, he said, I’ve been making up songs that are easy to harmonize with. I really like a good sing-a-long.
Single Point
tries not to change perspective too often because it makes her ears pop
Simple Life
I was going to live simply & give away all my money to the poor, she said, until I figured out then I’d be poor, so the simple thing was just to keep it. I like it when things make sense like that, she added.
Simple Rules
I learned 2 things early on, my sister said. The first is don’t blame people for being the way they are. What’s the second? I said. She smiled. If they’re really stupid she said, go ahead & blame them. It’s a really simple philosophy, she added.
Sideways Ladder
This is a sideways ladder because she likes to feel she’s making progress, but she’s afraid of heights.
Silly in Public
I figured out that if I keep it up, someday I’ll probably get wise enough to be silly in public but I probably won’t wait that long.
Silver Cord
connected by a silver cord that hums with sadness the further it is stretched
Short Leash
Is convinced there’s something we can learn from the animals, but so far all she can think of is that you should shut up when someone’s got you on a leash.