I have been paralyzing myself in writing blog posts because I want everything to be perfect and profound and thoughtful.
Perfect is the enemy of done.
-my therapist, Silicon Valley tech nerds, Instagram fashion bloggers, etc.
Going to try to push back on this tendency and write what seems fun and interesting at the time.
I love stories. As long as I can remember I have been “that kid” who gets overly invested in books, movies, tv shows, you name it. Reflecting on media and how it made me feel helps to solidify its impact in my mind.
The idea for a catalog of media I am inspired and moved by has been kicking around in my brain for a few years now. Here’s the first entry, a micro-review on a story I always come back to when people ask what my favorite book is.
Flowers for Algernon (5/5 stars)
One of the most powerful books I have ever read. Intensely sad. It’s interesting to think about the impact a story can have right after we read it versus the lasting themes that stick with us. These are key pieces I’ve carried since reading it a few years ago:
- Loneliness is dependent on our perception of what it means to be alone and our relationship to the people around us
- The nature of friendships is often dependent on how we see ourselves reflected within the relationship
- When a friend changes, it changes the reflection of ourselves we see in them and that shift in roles can be uncomfortable
- Freedom is not dependent on the number of constraints that are in place, just the ones we are able to see.
- Ignorance can be both a weapon and a reprieve
- Nothing lasts forever, make the most of everything while you can
What are the stories you always come back to?