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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
"You are looking outside, and that is what you should most avoid right now. No one can advise or help you — no one. There is only one thing you should do. Go into yourself. Find out the reason that commands you to write; see whether it has spread its roots into the very depths of your heart; confess to yourself whether you would have to die if you were forbidden to write. This most of all: ask yourself in the most silent hour of your night: must I write? Dig into yourself for a deep answer. And if this answer rings out in assent, if you meet this solemn question with a strong, simple “I must,” then build your life in accordance with this necessity; your while life, even into its humblest and most indifferent hour, must become a sign and witness to this impulse."
emotional
inspiring
slow-paced
lovers or just friends one might ask
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Loved. Read this going through stuff with Aryaman. Felt deeply informative and introspective.
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
There's so much good stuff here, I'm glad I own this book so I can revisit as often as I like. Even though these letters were written over a century ago, the advice is pretty timeless and is easily transferable to any number of situations. Highly recommended. Plus it's less than 100 pages so you can read it in an afternoon :)
reflective
medium-paced
Reading Rainer's letters made me reflect on a lot of things.
Here are some of my favorite topics talked about from this book
Here are some of my favorite topics talked about from this book
- finding and pursuing passion,
- creating art,
- practicing patience,
- seeking peace and solidarity,
- vitality of learning how to love; it is hard but necessary
- accepting life with its highs and lows. In the end, life is always right 😉
What i struggle to wrap my mind around is the idea "there is beauty everywhere.” it is hard to believe as someone who lives in a 3rd world country and has seen all forms of what beauty is not. But then again, I realized that seeing all things ugly does not negate the presence of beauty, I guess I just have to learn how to find it.
What i loved about the letters was how the lessons and advices were not forced or imposed; it was wonderfully penned that it allows you to not just agree to all words written but it also allows you to think for yourself. I love Ranier's humility and how there were hints of faith planted to the young poet all throughout the letters.
i'll end this by giving a glimpse of how great this book is:
"You are so young, all still lies ahead of you, and I should like to ask you, as best I can, dear Sir, to be patient towards all that is unresolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves like locked rooms, like books written in a foreign tongue. Do not now strive to uncover answers: they cannot be given you because you have not been able to live them. And what matters is to live everything. Live the questions for now.
Perhaps then you will gradually, without noticing it, live your way into the answer, one distant day in the future."
inspiring
fast-paced
medium-paced
While the writing was wonderful and makes it clear to me why so many love Rainer Maira Rilke, the message behind Rilke's words to Franz Xaver Kappus felt removed from Franz's reality. The notion that solitude is key to creativity felt very classist, removing the worldly responsibilities those of working class status face. It is not always realistic - as it was for Franz - to simply abandon life for art. There will still be bills to pay. The difference in Franz and Rilke's standing in society was clear, even in the locations Rilke wrote from (Pisa, Rome, Paris).
That aside, there were slivers of useful advice in this; asking yourself truly "must I write?" and focusing on introspection. But altogether, this was a bit underwhelming compared to the praise most people pile onto it.
That aside, there were slivers of useful advice in this; asking yourself truly "must I write?" and focusing on introspection. But altogether, this was a bit underwhelming compared to the praise most people pile onto it.