The Book of Form and Emptiness

by Ruth Ozeki

I became depressed, and to soothe my anxiety, I would eat and shop. I used food to fill the painful place inside me. I built a wall around me with new things to keep me safe. But no matter how much I consumed, it was never enough.

What makes a person want so much? What gives things the power to enchant, and is there any limit to the desire for more?

Hug yourself and say I love you. Repeat until it’s true. Walk like you’re happy. Change directions.

Disaster can strike at any moment, but we forget this, distracted by the bright, shiny comforts of our everyday lives.

Every person is trapped in their own particular bubble of delusion, and it’s every person’s task in life to break free. Books can help.

This was the problem of getting rid of things. You never know when you might need them.