Sunday Inspiration: John Irving

John Irving“It´s natural to want someone you love to do what you want, or what you think would be good for them, but you have to let everything happen to them. You can’t interfere with people you love any more than you’re supposed to interfere with people you don’t even know. And that’s hard, …, because you often feel like interfering -you want to be the one who makes the plans.” 
― John IrvingThe Cider House Rules

John Irving, the renowned author of The Cider House Rules, The World of According to Garp, A Prayer for Owen Meany, as well as other important novels spoke at Chautauqua Institution last week. I was lucky enough to hear him, and I wanted to share a quote of his with you.

I tend to interfere. Do you? This is a great reminder that it’s not always the best course.

2 Comments

  1. Coelle Baskel on July 1, 2018 at 10:24 am

    Yes, the hardest thing to do is withhold giving advice to your adult children.
    I had a paternal grandmother who when looking back realize she may not have agreed with me on some things, but at the time I always felt she was supporting me. Trying to be more like that!

  2. Nancy Lepri on July 1, 2018 at 11:07 am

    Unfortunately, I do tend to interfere, especially with my daughter. I’m trying to get her to stop smoking, but my “ranting” falls on deaf ears. I realize she should want to quit and needs to do so in her own, yet I worry about her health. What can I say, I’m a mother!

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