Not A Model Weekly Mantra - Rilke

Maybe it's the month of January that I find more difficult than the rest. Maybe it's the bitter winds that cut through our crimson cheeks, or the repetitive motion of putting on layer upon layer without thought. Maybe it's the loss of freedom that comes from the days of leaving the house with drenched  hair and bare, squirmy toes. Perhaps it's the dark mornings and the darker evenings that make even the smallest infraction of the human spirit a cause to hide under down-filled comforters until the snooze button goes off, yet again. There are many things that leave us heavy in our minds, in our hearts, or even in our sinuses. This week's mantra can't really be explained. I read it, I liked it. Here's to feeling heavy.

“This is what the things can teach us:
to fall,
patiently to trust our heaviness.
Even a bird has to do that
before he can fly.”

— Rilke

Monday Mantra

In order to give Not A Model a little more structure, I thought I'd start a "Monday Mantra" post. Every Monday I will post an inspirational quote to get everyone starting the week on a positive note. I know Mondays are not everyone's favourite!

Not A Model's Monday Mantra, as sent to me by a co-worker: 

"Only 25% of job success is predicted by intelligence. 75% is predicted by three characteristics related to happiness: optimism, a positive social support network and a positive response to stress.”

Source: globeandmail.com article, "It turns out intelligence, not ignorance is related to bliss"

Happy Monday!