Three day quote challenge, day three

“We are making photographs to understand what our lives mean to us.” — Ralph Hattersley. Image: Su Leslie 2017

Life isn’t about finding yourself. It’s about creating yourself. — George Bernard Shaw

When I was young, I remember the notion of “finding yourself” being talked about — in popular culture at least — as a thing that people (young, middle class, white people) could do.

At 12 or 13 it seemed terribly glamorous and infinitely desirable.

I also remember my father — a no-nonsense, working-class member of  The Silent Generation (1)– scoffing. His mantra was more or less “if you can’t find yourself in the mirror, then running of to join a commune isn’t going to help.”

Perhaps that’s why this quote appeals to me so much. It balances my desire to reach for something beyond an unexamined humdrum existence, with a sneaking feeling that my dad’s pragmatism resonates more with me that I would have ever have wanted to admit.

More importantly, it acknowledges that we are all work in progress.

The Three Day Quote Challenge works like this:

1) Thank the person who nominated you
2) Post a quote for 3 consecutive days ( 1 post each day )
3) Nominate 3 bloggers each day

I’m grateful to Ju-Lyn at Sunrise, Sunset for inviting me to join this challenge and giving me reason to reflect on quotes and ideas that are meaningful to me.

If you haven’t already been invited to join this,  and would like to — please do.

I for one am happy to read all the extra words of wisdom (or fun) that are sent my way.

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1. The Silent Generation is the term given to those born between 1924 and 1945.