Happy International Women's Day!  

Deep, honest things beautiful women had/have said: 
{Pictures & Quotes from GoodReads.}

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“Real isn't how you are made,' said the Skin Horse. 'It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.'

'Does it hurt?' asked the Rabbit. 

'Sometimes,' said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. 'When you are Real you don't mind being hurt.' 

'Does it happen all at once, like being wound up,' he asked, 'or bit by bit?' 

'It doesn't happen all at once,' said the Skin Horse. 'You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand.” 
― Margery WilliamsThe Velveteen Rabbit



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“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.” 
― Marilyn Monroe

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“You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off of you.” 
― Maya Angelou



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“Anyone can hide. Facing up to things, working through them, that's what makes you strong.” 
― Sarah Dessen

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If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.” 
― Emily Dickinson


“The poet lights the light and fades away. But the light goes on and on.” 
― Emily Dickinson





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“We're all under the same sky and walk the same earth; we're alive together during the same moment.” 
― Maxine Hong KingstonThe Woman Warrior


“Long ago in China, knot-makers tied string into buttons and frogs, and rope into bell pulls. There was one knot so complicated that it blinded the knot-maker. Finally an emperor outlawed this cruel knot, and the nobles could not order it anymore. If I had lived in China, I would have been an outlaw knot-maker.” 
― Maxine Hong KingstonThe Woman Warrior


                                                                                              ...

What other adventurous/courageous/beautiful things have you heard? Do you have a favourite quote to share?
 
 

" 'Real isn't how you are made,' said the Skin Horse. 'It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.'

'Does it hurt?' asked the Rabbit.

'Sometimes,' said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. 'When you are Real, you don't mind being hurt.'  "
                                                                                                        THE VELVETEEN RABBIT

During my research on picture books, I had come across this title several times, and every time it just wasn't the right book for the blog theme (no rabbit or toy posts, yet). So I'd always missed reading this 'classic.'

But last week, after a lesson with my Korean kid, I spotted this book again. It stuck out on the library shelf, and I thought I'd give it a go.

And goodness, that rabbit toy thing became the highlight of my week. An absolute five-star.

But when you're Real, you don't mind being hurt. 

I do mind being hurt. But I also understand being hurt is part of the flow of this world. There must be a way to walk through pain and suffering, however little, however much, to take it all in, and be honestly accepting of all of it. 

I don't know how it's done. The spiritual guru I read, Thich Nhat Hanh, would have an answer. Might have something to do with the roses and rotten cabbages in our lives.

Perhaps, like the velveteen rabbit, I shouldn't pin too much hopes on letting others define me as Real. Let me find out my Real self, my waking-upon-dreaming self, my clearest self, first. 

And ... we'll see how everything else goes. 

One step at a time. 

I wasn't born Real. I was born. 

I'll watch and hear my Real self. I'll let Real happen to me.


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Have you read THE VELVETEEN RABBIT? Do you love what it does to you, too?