How to get what you want
“Whatever you want emotionally, you have to start giving away.” ~Mary Karr
In her best-selling memoir, The Liar’s Club, Mary Karr chronicles her deeply troubled childhood and her descent into alcoholism. Published in 1995, the book’s raw emotional honesty and humor resonated with readers — and topped the NYT bestseller list for a year.
At the heart of Karr’s message is a simple reminder for everyone: We must find the courage reach out for what we want — and stop expecting others to read our minds and automatically fulfill our needs.
In other words, if you want honesty and authenticity in your relationships, be honest and authentic. If you want more love and attention, give more love and attention. If you want others to listen deeply to you, stop talking and listen deeply to others. If you want people to be more generous, extend your generosity. Each of us has the potential to enjoy richer, stronger emotional connections. ~CL
Cindy La Ferle
Throughout my career, I've worked as a book production editor, travel magazine editor, features writer, and weekly newspaper columnist. My award-winning lifestyles features and essays have appeared in many national magazines and anthologies, including Newsweek, Reader's Digest, The Christian Science Monitor, Writer's Digest, Victoria, Better Homes & Gardens, Bella Grace, and more. My weekly Sunday "Life Lines" column ran for 14 years in The Daily Tribune (Royal Oak, MI) and won a First Place (Local Columns) award from the Michigan Press Association. My essay collection, Writing Home, includes 93 previously published columns and essays focusing on parenthood and family life.
