Be soft.
Do not let the world make you hard.
Do not let the pain make you hate.
Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness.
Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree,
you still believe it to be a beautiful place.
-Kurt Vonnegut
What? Who?
Kurt Vonnegut?
Kurt Vonnegut who penned the likes of Slaughterhouse Five, Cat’s Cradle, Bluebeard, and Deadeye Dick?
I have to admit, I was a bit surprised.
Softness.
Soft heart.
Soft words.
Soft answers can ingratiate or disarm (as written in Proverbs; a soft answer turneth away wrath).
Soft lighting.
Soft touch.
Soft cashmere.
Soft as in a lambs ear leaf (my daughter loved to sit and touch them in my garden).
Soft breezes.
Soft sloping hills in the distance.
Soft music.
All so pleasing.
But to be soft.
Is it a good thing to be soft?
Is it dangerous?
Does it leave you too vulnerable?
Can you be strong if you’re soft?
Can you be intelligent and yet soft?
Is being soft a way of being wise?
Beautiful photo and great insight paired with it. I’m a fan of Vonnegut. I attended a reading of his many years ago. He can be so harsh at times then, yes, soft, with words and ideas that go straight to the heart. He’s one of just a handful of writers of whom I truly believe his parts are worth more than his sum, as many of his sentences smack you right upside the head (or heart) far more than the total of his books do. At least for me.
I do believe being soft can show strength. Maya Angelou immediately comes to mind when considering such.
Lisa @ Grandma’s Briefs recently posted..5 words for 2013: What well wishes for the new year mean to one grandma
Great insights on Vonnegut, Lisa. Harsh and then soft. Most of are that way too. Life can be terrifying and beautiful – two sides of the same coin. And we, most of us, live through both. Maya Angelou….hmmmmm.
Those are beautiful words – yours and Vonnegut’s. I love soft things, but I have gone far in the other direction, continually hardening my spiny shell, although I admit I still have a soft gooey center.
Katrina Blanchalle recently posted..The Carnivore’s Conscience
I also was very surprised that the quotation was from Kurt Vonnegut. I finished his “Jailbird” over the weekend. “Soft” really doesn’t describe it.
Is it good to be soft? I can’t help but thinking of the layer of “fluffiness” that has developed around my middle, and that is not a good thing.
Strong and soft is hard for me to get my mind around, but intelligent and soft seem to go together well (the nerd).
Surprising words from Kurt Vonnegut, wow.
I work at choosing soft. Sometimes it is more difficult, but choosing hard takes a toll on the soul.
Both hard and soft have their places — a hard, crusty roll is delicious, as is a soft, gooey marshmallow. I think the distinction is WHEN are we being hard or WHEN are we being soft. One doesn’t want others to turn them into a door mat; neither does one want to turn a deaf ear to the cries of those in need. You’ve posed some thought-provoking questions here, my dear!
Debbie recently posted..Irish Lose to ‘Bama
I think you’re right Debbie – when we’re being one or the other is an important distinction.
I’m not familiar enough with Vonnegut to know that the quote was out of his context but now I’m intrigued! (your blog always does this…leads me to something new to learn!).
I’ll never forget, a little earlier in my career when I was a supervisor and aspiring to promote up, a manager I respect told my manager that he thought I was “too nice” to make it very far up the ladder. My manager, a woman I greatly admired, said “Don’t worry, Lina. That’s what they say about me too.” Fast forward, I did promote up and now work closely with the manager who thought I was soft…I am nice, I do have a soft touch, but never mistake that I can make a tough decision. He knows now, and we have a great working relationship. ~smile~
Old Married Lady recently posted..Helping Hands
Yes, Lina, that’s so true. Like some people are perceived as push overs if they’re nice or quiet, when the opposite is often true. Soft and strong more often go hand in hand. Good for your manager for seeing that strength in you.
Soft for the right people, perhaps. Slaughterhouse Five for the rest of the world?!
Sarah@afterhood recently posted..The Tree is a Memory
Welcome Sarah! Slaughterhouse Five for the rest of the world? We need that toughness to deal with a lot of what the world entails. Sadly.
I think it makes you tough to be soft. It’s easy being tough, but to be tender and soft, that takes strength. I was surprised reading K.V.’s words.
Brenda recently posted..Top Ten Reasons Not To Write
Me too, Brenda. But it was a reminder to me that you can’t always tell about someone by their exterior, reputation, surface. Some of the burliest, surliest can have a very soft underbelly.
Not what I would have expected of Vonnegut!
As for softness, it is an advantage I think – in many things, many situations, and as an aspect of personality.
It is also a disadvantage in that which requires strength, solidity, forcefulness.
We need hard and soft, and we need both in the same individuals. We need our vulnerability, but also our protective structures in order to survive.
D. A. Wolf recently posted..Flash in Forty: Green Rain
So well said D.A.