You have to learn to hold paradoxical experiences and truths without freaking out. I mean, if you can't

deal with the reality that life is just unbelievably beautiful and that love is really the answer

to everything and that we're all going to die, then it keeps you being, you know, a nine-year-old

for the rest of your life trying to keep that at bay instead of saying, yes, we're all going to die.

How do I live in the face of that? How do I live today? How do I live for the next few hours in

the face of the fact that life is short and precious and such a trip?

So my first exposure to Anne Lamott's work was her iconic book, Bird by Bird, which as a writer,

was really transformational for me. Not just because it helped me really better understand how

and why to write, but also because her wonderfully wise and a reverent voice, it just inspired me to

be more real and more honest in both my work and in my life. And I have remained captivated by her

writing ever since. The author of too many New York Times bestsellers, including almost everything,

hallelujah, anyway, small victory stitches, help thanks, wow, and dusk night dawn. Anne goes places

that others kind of fear to tread with such humility, such humor, such craft. It's like you've

been invited into her mind, her life, and her ability to draw belly laughs and deep wisdom and

hits of awakening from those often tiny little moments that touch down in our lives that so many of

us miss. She reminds you that it may not be fun while it's happening, but it's all part of that

beautiful souffle of life and every ingredient matters. So excited to share this best of conversation

with you. I'm Jonathan Fields and this is Good Life Project.

For the seventh year on the Code Switch podcast, conversations about race and identity go

way beyond the day's headlines. Because we know what's part of every person is part of every story.

We're bringing that perspective with new episodes every week. Listen on the Code Switch podcast from

NPR. Good Life Project is supported by a tied smart business account. So running your own business

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