A Lotus Grows in the Mud
Encyclopedia
"A Lotus Grows in the Mud" is a memoir
written by Goldie Hawn
in 2005, with experienced author Wendy Holden
.
The memoir was written about past episodes and encounters with family, friends, co-workers and complete strangers Hawn has met and known throughout her lifetime. Using a Reflective writing
style and Introspection
Hawn writes the memoir in a first person narrative from notes she had taken over the years from her personal diary. The memoir sold over 1 million copies and made the New York Times Bestseller list.
The memoir is available in different formats, including hardback and paperback books, a CD or electronic audio book file format, which can be downloaded over the internet. Hawn does the entire audio voice herself and the running time is 5 hrs and 43 minutes in length.
The memoir is made up of 35 individual stories, which are separated by 16 mini short-stories called “Postcard’s”, consisting of poems, words of wisdom, and personal reflections. Inserted into the book are two major sections of photographs, 23 color photos and 33 black-and-white photos, as well as 10 other photos that are placed between stories.
While the stories themselves are in a chronological order; not every event or person Hawn has ever known are discussed. At the conclusion of most of the stories, Hawn goes on to relate how those particular circumstances and encounters with people taught her valuable lessons and values in life. She also includes descriptions of how those pieces of knowledge could be passed on and used to teach children in the future.
Described in the preface, Hawn points out that the main purpose of the book is to speak from her heart about past events along life's journey and how she has been affected and changed from those experiences and encounters which she calls her "Gifts".
This spiritual quote, which lead to the title of the book, Hawn received from the Venerable Thupten Ngodrup. He is the Nechung Oracle
of the Nechung Dorje Drayang Ling Monastery in Dharamsala, India.
"The lotus
is the most beautiful flower, whose petals open one by one. But it will only grow in the mud. In order to grow and gain wisdom, first you must have the mud --- the obstacles of life and its suffering. ... The mud speaks of the common ground that humans share, no matter what our stations in life. ... Whether we have it all or we have nothing, we are all faced with the same obstacles: sadness, loss, illness, dying and death. If we are to strive as human beings to gain more wisdom, more kindness and more compassion, we must have the intention to grow as a lotus and open each petal one by one".
Memoir
A memoir , is a literary genre, forming a subclass of autobiography – although the terms 'memoir' and 'autobiography' are almost interchangeable. Memoir is autobiographical writing, but not all autobiographical writing follows the criteria for memoir set out below...
written by Goldie Hawn
Goldie Hawn
Goldie Jeanne Hawn is an American actress, film director, producer, and occasional singer. Hawn is known for her roles in Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, Private Benjamin, Foul Play, Overboard, Bird on a Wire, Death Becomes Her, The First Wives Club, and Cactus Flower, for which she won the 1969...
in 2005, with experienced author Wendy Holden
Wendy Holden
Wendy Holden, also known as Taylor Holden, is an author and journalist who has written more than twenty-five books, nine of them international bestsellers. She was born in Pinner, North London, in 1961 and now lives in Suffolk, England.-Publications:...
.
The memoir was written about past episodes and encounters with family, friends, co-workers and complete strangers Hawn has met and known throughout her lifetime. Using a Reflective writing
Reflective writing
Reflective Writing is a practice in which the writer describes a real or imaginal scene, event, interaction, passing thought, memory, form, adding a personal reflection on the meaning of the item or incident, thought, feeling, emotion, or situation in his or her life...
style and Introspection
Introspection
Introspection is the self-observation and reporting of conscious inner thoughts, desires and sensations. It is a conscious and purposive process relying on thinking, reasoning, and examining one's own thoughts, feelings, and, in more spiritual cases, one's soul...
Hawn writes the memoir in a first person narrative from notes she had taken over the years from her personal diary. The memoir sold over 1 million copies and made the New York Times Bestseller list.
The memoir is available in different formats, including hardback and paperback books, a CD or electronic audio book file format, which can be downloaded over the internet. Hawn does the entire audio voice herself and the running time is 5 hrs and 43 minutes in length.
The memoir is made up of 35 individual stories, which are separated by 16 mini short-stories called “Postcard’s”, consisting of poems, words of wisdom, and personal reflections. Inserted into the book are two major sections of photographs, 23 color photos and 33 black-and-white photos, as well as 10 other photos that are placed between stories.
While the stories themselves are in a chronological order; not every event or person Hawn has ever known are discussed. At the conclusion of most of the stories, Hawn goes on to relate how those particular circumstances and encounters with people taught her valuable lessons and values in life. She also includes descriptions of how those pieces of knowledge could be passed on and used to teach children in the future.
Described in the preface, Hawn points out that the main purpose of the book is to speak from her heart about past events along life's journey and how she has been affected and changed from those experiences and encounters which she calls her "Gifts".
This spiritual quote, which lead to the title of the book, Hawn received from the Venerable Thupten Ngodrup. He is the Nechung Oracle
Nechung Oracle
The Nechung Oracle is the State Oracle of Tibet. The medium of the State Oracle currently resides with the current Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India...
of the Nechung Dorje Drayang Ling Monastery in Dharamsala, India.
"The lotus
Nelumbo nucifera
Nelumbo nucifera, known by a number of names including Indian Lotus, Sacred Lotus, Bean of India, or simply Lotus, is a plant in the monogeneric family Nelumbonaceae...
is the most beautiful flower, whose petals open one by one. But it will only grow in the mud. In order to grow and gain wisdom, first you must have the mud --- the obstacles of life and its suffering. ... The mud speaks of the common ground that humans share, no matter what our stations in life. ... Whether we have it all or we have nothing, we are all faced with the same obstacles: sadness, loss, illness, dying and death. If we are to strive as human beings to gain more wisdom, more kindness and more compassion, we must have the intention to grow as a lotus and open each petal one by one".