I recently finished the 50 Shades of Grey trilogy and while it was pretty good, I felt the story was predictable and kept going in circles. It was also rather intense. I was looking for something lighter and something I could connect with. My aunt led me to- "The Art of Racing in the Rain" By: Garth Stein. As many know, I am a dog lover, so this book being from the perspective a a dog, Enzo, captured my interest immediately. The lessons on racing can very easily be used in comparison to life. I appreciate wise words in books because I always look forward to learning new things. This book gave me laughs and a few tears. I thought I would share a few of my favorite lessons.
"I had always wanted to love Eve as Denny loved her, but I never had because I was afraid. She was my rain. She was my unpredictable element. She was my fear. But a racer should not be afraid of rain; a racer should embrace the rain. I alone, could manifest a change in that which was around me. By changing my mood, my energy, I allowed Eve to regard me differently. And while I cannot say that I m a master of my own destiny, I can say that I have experienced a glimpse of mastery, and I know what I have to work toward."
"The true hero is flawed. The true test of a champion is not whether he can overcome obstacles-preferably of his own making-in order to triumph. A hero without a flaw is of no interest to n audience or the universe, which, after all, is based on conflict and opposition, the irresistible force meeting the unmovable object."
"The race is long-to finish first, first you must finish."
"There is no dishonor in losing the race, there is only dishonor in not racing because you are afraid to lose."
"A winner, a champion, will accept his fate. He will continue with his wheels in the dirt. He will do his best to maintain his line and gradually get himself back on the track when it is safe to do so. Yes, he loses a few places in the race. Yes, he is at a disadvantage. But he is still racing. He is still alive."
"I know this much about racing in the rain. I know it is about balance. It is about anticipation and patience. I know ll of the driving skills that are necessary for one to be successful in the rain. But racing in the rain is also about the mind! It is about owning one's own body. About believing that one's car is merely an extension of one's body, and the rain is an extension of the track, and the sky is an extension of the rain. It is about believing that you re not you; you are everything. And everything is you."
Happy Reading!
