jeremy asked me a question last week that i decided deserved its own post, so that is the one i am answering today.

q: if you could take one theme from a book you’ve read in the past year that would make you a better person, what would it be?

i have been thinking about this one for over a week and in true veena fashion cannot settle on just one thing. i have learned so much from the books i’ve read in the last year, so i decided to share some of the things that have stuck with me and have changed how i approach my days:

• be passionate about your work, but don’t let that passion consume you. never get so emotionally entrenched in it that it takes over all other aspects of your life [from liz fosslien and mollie west duffy’s no hard feelings, the best book i read in 2019]
• your voice is a weapon, and it is your duty to use it responsibly [this has come up over and over, including in etaf rum’s a woman is no man, natasha díaz’s color me in, all of maya angelou’s autobiographies, and many more]
• pretty much everything from aminatou sow and ann friedman’s big friendship, including:
  • shine theory — the idea that i don’t shine unless my friends shine
  • expecting the best for my friends because they deserve the best and then some
  • the importance of speaking up when i am feeling stretched in a friendship
• welcome every part of someone’s identity, because you might be the only person who sees them for who they truly are [from akwaeke ezemi’s the death of vivek oji]
• before getting upset with someone, think about the story you are telling yourself about the situation first [from brené brown’s rising strong]
• “it was important, dumbledore said, to fight, and fight again, and keep fighting, for only then could evil be kept at bay, though never quite eradicated” [from half-blood prince]
• “‘we’re all human, aren’t we? every human life is worth the same, and worth saving'” [from deathly hallows]

i’m sure i could come up with many more answers but these are a great start.

what would your answer be?

xx

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