Omnivalence

I’ve just started reading Mary Pipher’s new autobiographical book, Seeking Peace: Chronicles of the Worst Buddhist in the World, and after reading the prelude, I’ve decided that she’s my mental twin.

For example:

Few people have sought serenity with more ardor or have worked harder at relaxing than I have.

My experience exactly! A week in an all-enclusive? I’d prefer to be shot.

I can see all sides of every issue. From my point of view, the answer to every question is: “It depends.”

Uhuh. That’s why conversations with me can be so painful. Except when they’re with my oldest son, who like me, can spend hours debating the exact meaning of each word in every sentence.

I like this one:

I coined a term for myself – “omnivalent,” an adjective that describes a person who has complex and changing ideas about everything all the time…..I can have mixed feelings about a paper clip.

Yes! I’m not ambivalent, I’m omnivalent! It’s not that I don’t care, it’s that my opinions change.

I am easily bored.

Yup.

Moody.

Yup.

Exuberant.

Often.

Obsessed with sleep, and greedy for sensory pleasure, knowledge and love.

That’s me! In bed by ten o’clock with a cup of tea and a stack of self-help books!

My favorite:

I could form a support group for people who try too hard.

Or in my case, care too much.

I haven’t even read the introduction yet. I predict many Mary Pipher quotes on this blog in the next few days.