It’s a dog’s life
by Carl Honoré · June 3, 2010
What do hyperparents do when the kids finally leave home? They start micromanaging their dogs.
Think canine sports tournaments, canine yoga and canine spas. A night club for dogs has even opened in New York.
What next? Canine Kumon?
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Hello Carl,
I am writing to thank you. To thank you for helping me finish my first book - “Avoiding the Blues” - which I am attaching a PDF copy of to this email. While I realize that you must get many, many emails hopefully this is one that will strike an emotion.
For Christmas I was given a copy of your book (In Praise of Slow). Actually it was the French translation by Sophie Artaud. The book immediately had an impact on me. I had just resigned from my employer after twenty-one years of employment. I had been blogging for a few years and had ideas of writing books. Thoughts of why I had spent close to five years wanting to resign from IBM were lodged in my brain but had never found their way, coherently, onto paper. Your inspiring words changed that.
Suddenly I understood. The tick of the corporate world I was a part of was one that was measured not by the beating of the hearts of employees but rather the hands on a clock. My book talks about the lessons I learnt while employed with Big Blue. I hope to inspire others working in the corporate world to ensure that they do not lose sight of what is important to their hearts and that they ensure they take the time to follow that most vital of beats.
Four months after reading your book I completed my first. And now I have published it. It is an amazing feeling. If you do take the time to read the book I hope you enjoy it and that you might help me spread the word.
Thanks,
Olivier de Sousa
http://www.olivierdesousa.com
Comment by Olivier de Sousa 174.91.205.77 not found — June 8, 2010 @ 5:33 am
Hi Olivier, Delighted that In Praise helped bring things into focus for you.
Sounds like you’ve landed on your feet and are well on your way to finding your own tempo giusto. Congratulations on your book! I took a peak and it looks great. Hope it goes well for you!
Comment by Carl Honoré 95.177.121.34 not found — June 9, 2010 @ 3:47 am
Hi Carl,
I loved your book. I am slowing down my family in many ways. I took on one project this year in which I’m involving my kids. It is to embrace a creative lifestyle and that necessarily means slowing way down. It’s harder said than done, but we’re working on it.
Best wishes.
Comment by Joana Johnson
— June 18, 2010 @ 10:38 am
Hi Joana, glad you like the book. Sounds like a family project we should all get behind. As you say, it’s easier said than done - but definitely worth it in the end.
The trick is not to slow down too fast. Slow down slowly….
Comment by Carl Honore
— June 19, 2010 @ 12:33 am