human spirit.

“We do not believe in ourselves until someone reveals that deep inside us something is valuable, worth listening to, worthy of our trust, sacred to our touch. Once we believe in ourselves we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight or any experience that reveals the human spirit.”
-e. e. cummings

Comments

Anonymous said…
i really like this. it's so true.
Anonymous said…
when i read quotes like this, i get a knot in my throat, not necessarily because i want to cry, but because it stirs up an overwhelming feeling, whether that be sadness, happiness, hope, relief, etc…thank you for sharing this quote, i had yet to come across it.

-amy
Chris said…
Love the e.e. cummings quote.

I believe the human spirit can be damaged by people or circumstances in life if we allow it, but it's something that no one can take away from us. It's what gives passion to our lives no matter where we are on the journey.

Enjoy California!
Latrina said…
Ah, great quote. And its so true too. :)
Anonymous said…
My question to everyone:

Who was your someone?
Anonymous said…
very true. I'm so glad I believe in myself now and can take risks.

"Who was your someone?"


my dad
Anonymous said…
very nice quote.

as for the question, it was really several people, and God
dana said…
i love e.e. cummings.

and i could say God, but i'm not completely sure i believe in myself yet.
Book of James said…
I think for many people it is the act of letting go of self interest that allows this revelation to occurr.

When we let go of our selfish attitudes and become selfless enough to help someone else, the value and worth that is in each of us is revealed. We are empowered to go beyond ourselves more and more. And when we do we discover the wonder and spontaneous delight. We become the human spirit revealed.

When you are able to grasp this e.e. cummings quote it is time.

Are you going to be the "someone" for someone else?
Chris said…
I'd have to say my someone is God. He placed the human spirit within us and only He can love us unconditionally.
"I'd have to say my someone is God. He placed the human spirit within us and only He can love us unconditionally."

Couldn't have said it better myself!
Anonymous said…
It's so strange how the 'someone else' element is needed. I can and do inspire people, but those same things they see in me, can't be an inspiration to myself for myself. Everyone needs someone else to reflect it back upon them.
Anonymous said…
your book was amazing - please start the next one as soon as possible.

i even put off reading school work and my last two paulo coelho books to read it.
Latrina said…
Stephen, your book is amazing. I've written little side notes in the margins (my thoughts, replies to what you've written, etc) & I'm going to give it to my boyfriend to do the same. And then I'm going to mail it to my friend (who lives on the other side of the country) and he can read it, read our comments, and write his own.. and send it back to me. :) I thought it was a great idea & it was your book that inspired me to do so.

I can't wait to finish it. :D I keep reading the chapters over & over simply because they are just SO good. And pretty damn hilarious at some times.

To the question:

"Who was your someone?"

Honestly it was my Mom, unfortunately I didn't realize it until she passed What she left behind brought me closer to God in so many ways, I can't put it into words. She also showed me compassion & honesty. I now KNOW myself, inside & out. And I completely believe in me.
Anonymous said…
Thank you for putting that on your blog - never heard of E.E.Cummings but if he says more valuable things like this then I have to do a little research on this... coolness.
bought a smiths record at goodwill. because you suggested it. makes me smile.
Hans said…
Going by the criteria set forth at the end of the quote for how we can tell that someone has revealed taht fact, I really couldn't tell you when I first risked curiosity, spontaneous delight, and so forth.

As to who it was that sparked it, or perhaps re-ignited the wavering flame at sundry times since it first appeared--the reassurance that God considers some essence of me to be worth His time and effort is probably the primary revealer. That said, the love of my parents cannot be underestimated, nor can the selflessness Book of James. When you give of yourself, not expecting anything in return, and find that that input from you is valuable to another person, or that another person needs you, it's very validating. That said, I don't think it works when one gives with the intention of validation--the validation becomes an artificial construction of the giver.
Jenny said…
Aah E.E Cummings has a lot of these little gems. One I'm personally fond of...

"To be nobody-but-yourself - in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else - means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting."

Yours is most definatly a nice choice to blog.

Jpxxx
Roman said…
Human spirit?
I honestly don't believe its a self identification of human spirit but more of an identification of the fearless entity that is less human.

Love the concept of the quote though!
guard my dreams said…
to find that person who first shows you that life is worth living is one of the most important things in life, i think. it is in that moment that you can stop doubting yourself, stop focusing on your shortcomings, and finally begin to enjoy life.

having just finished your book, stephen, i cannot help but relate this quote to nico. great job, by the way.
Seredhiel said…
this quote is simply amazing. It just reminds us all to believe in ourselves to be truly enlightened.

And your book is a work of art. You have a true gift and I certainly hope it is not your last.
Unknown said…
I really like this quote.
To me, that someone is God, but then again that someone could be a close friend, a family member, etc
Really cool!
-chet
Anonymous said…
As the others already said, your book is amazing, as is this blog. Please don't ever stop writing, you have such talent.
Sarah said…
i read the orphaned anything...i really liked it. I could totally hear your voice throughout the novel, and I could tell you had so much advice you wanted to give. Great job with conveying ayden's apathy to the reader.

Only thing is, if you have a second printing...please let me edit it? I am a grammar nazi, and went through with a pencil correcting misspelled words and punctuation errors. =/
Latrina said…
I think he wanted it to be unedited. I actually enjoyed the little flaws. It made the memoir more real & intimate. Like a diary entry or something. :)
Book of James said…
Great point Latrina. I remember several English teachers telling me that I must follow their rules and direction, that when I get out of school and become an author then you can do it any way you want.

I guess Stephen is doing it how he wants. Rock on brother!
The Seeker. said…
Wow. So true. And though we need those people in our lives...we should also strive to be those people to others.
x said…
beautiful quote; i love e.e. cummings. ♥

and re: "who was your someone?"

i'd have to say, mine was everyone and anyone who ever loved or cared about me. i am immensely grateful for anyone who has even shown the smallest amount of encouragement or support.

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