“She kept swimming out into life because she hadn't yet found a rock to stand on.”
In this quote by Barbara Kingsolver, the metaphor of swimming represents the act of navigating through life's challenges and uncertainties. The idea of not yet finding a rock to stand on conveys a sense of searching for stability and security in the midst of life's unpredictable waters. This quote suggests the importance of finding a solid foundation in order to feel grounded and secure in one's journey through life. It reflects the human experience of seeking stability and security amidst the constant ebb and flow of life's tides.
In the midst of life's uncertainties and challenges, Barbara Kingsolver's quote serves as a reminder of the importance of perseverance and resilience. In the fast-paced and ever-changing modern world, it is crucial to keep pushing forward, seeking stability and grounding in order to find one's footing amidst the chaos. Just as the protagonist in Kingsolver's words kept swimming in search of a solid rock to stand on, we too must continue exploring, adapting, and growing in our journey through life.
“She kept swimming out into life because she hadn't yet found a rock to stand on.” - Barbara Kingsolver
This quote by Barbara Kingsolver highlights the idea of searching for stability and a sense of grounding in life. Reflecting on this quote can help us explore our own journey towards finding our own "rock to stand on". Here are some questions to guide your reflection:
“She would just be catching up when I'd go again, swimming farther out into life because I still hadn't found a rock to stand on.”
“In a lifetime of hearing people celebrate weekends, she finally saw what all the fuss was about. By no means did her workload cease on Saturday, but it did shift gears. If her kids wanted to pull everything out of the laundry basket to make a bird's nest and sit in it, fine. Dellarobia could even sit in there with them and incubate, if she so desired. Household chores no longer called her name exclusively. She had an income. She'd never before understood how much her life in this little house had felt to her like confinement in a sinking vehicle after driving off a bridge. ..... To open a hatch and swim away felt miraculous. Working outside the home took her about fifty yards from her kitchen, which was far enough. She couldn't see the dishes in the sink.”
“But the last one: the baby who trails her scent like a flag of surrender through your life when there will be no more coming after - oh, that's love by a different name. She is the babe you hold in your arms for an hour after she's gone to sleep. If you put her down in the crib, she might wake up changed and fly away. So instead you rock by the window, drinking the light from her skin, breathing her exhaled dreams. Your heart bays to the double crescent moons of closed lashes on her cheeks. She's the one you can't put down.”
“I considered her my ally, because, like me, she was imperfect.”
“You talk about her as if she is the Notre Dame Cathedral!" "She is. And the Statue of Liberty and Abbey Road and the best burrito of your life. Didn't you know?”
“She is not a bulldog, only a woman pressed into the shape of a small jar, possibly attempting to dance in there. It shows in the way she places a seashell on a window sill, a red-painted chair in the corner: she is practiced in the art of creating a still life and taking up residence inside it.”