Chapter 19 - Silence
“You’re not a lotus-eater, Mona,” Nigel said patiently. “Not anymore. You’re back on the boat, heading home. It’s time you sat orderly upon the bench and smote the gray sea with your oars. Row hard and don’t look back.”
—Jen Beagin, Pretend I’m Dead
Suggested browsing song: It’s All So Incredibly Loud by Glass Animals
I found this quote in the Pretend I'm Dead book I was reading, and to this day the idea of the lotus-eaters stays with me. I felt like my entire period in college I became completely disconnected from myself and meaning and fell deep into substance use. As I found this quote, I decided that my purpose and integrity must always be my guiding force as I never want to become a lotus-eater again. I have a lotus flower tattoo on my back to remind me of this story and to never let me stray from my purpose.