Good day, readers. Today is June 21st, the 173rd day of the year 2024, with 193 days remaining.
To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.
David Viscott
Today in Literary History:
On this day in 1921, the Booker Prize-winning author, Doris Lessing, was born. Known for her richly textured novels that explore themes of politics, society, and gender, her most famous work, The Golden Notebook, remains a landmark piece of feminist literature.
Notable Birthdays:
Jean-Paul Sartre, born on June 21, 1905, was a French philosopher, playwright, and novelist. As a key figure in existentialism and phenomenology, Sartre’s works such as Nausea and Being and Nothingness have deeply influenced modern philosophy and literature.
Today’s Readings:
From The Color Purple by Alice Walker: “I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don’t notice it.”
Literary Fact of the Day:
On June 21st, 1964, civil rights workers Andrew Goodman, Michael Schwerner, and James Chaney were murdered by the Ku Klux Klan in Mississippi. Their story has been immortalized in numerous works, including the film Mississippi Burning and various books that chronicle the civil rights movement and its ongoing impact on American society.
Poem of the Day:
“Desiderata” by Max Ehrmann:
Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
Max Ehrmann’s “Desiderata” offers timeless advice for finding peace and purpose in life. Its gentle, affirming wisdom encourages readers to seek balance, embrace their unique journey, and remain resilient amidst life’s challenges.
Advice for Writers:
Inspired by David Viscott’s quote on love, consider how you can infuse your writing with the warmth and complexity of human relationships. Explore how characters’ connections with one another can illuminate their inner lives and drive your narrative forward.
Have a day filled with thoughtful reading and heartfelt writing, dear readers. Until tomorrow, may your literary pursuits bring you both warmth and enlightenment.
I really love that quote! 🙂
❤️