TydBits: Tiny Thoughts, Big Life is a collection of short meditations to help the reader to experience the unique beauty that arises out of hardship and perseverance -each accompanied by a full-page illustration to delight readers of all ages.
TydBits: Tiny Thoughts, Big Life is a collection of short meditations to help the reader to experience the unique beauty that arises out of hardship and perseverance -each accompanied by a full-page illustration to delight readers of all ages.
The smallest things can have the most profound impact. Douglas Hay's book TydBits Vol 1: Or Tiny Thoughts, Big Life starts with revelations on how a bird and a mouse affected his tender soul, and he learned to both seek and find meaning and solace in minor things. I deep-dived into this book based on this promising premise and an alluring title.Â
I was surprised to see that the book carries both French and Spanish translations of Hay's tiny musings. The bright artwork also draws immediate attention. Colorful and bright, they call the reader to stop and contemplate the form and derive interpretations. In the vibrant, line drawings, one can see the contours of a face and the eyes. The work speaks of self-discovery through a creative and artistic journey. Therein, lies its appeal.
The reflections in the book are crisp and multi-layered. They sometimes reminded me of Rumi and Kahlil Gibran, sometimes of proverbs, and often of the genre of popular books like The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse. There is a hint of philosophy and self-realization. There are spiritual references and an ode to nature. I found some pieces quite evocative, example:
I imagine the Devil to be quite
Sad. A sadness so profound,
that At Times it seems, Entire
Civilizations patronize him.
The writing is, though, not unique. These are not words that you haven't heard before. They are so simple that they may cross your mind without needing to pen them down. This book is an exercise in journaling, a self-cleansing, inner-child healing tool. The author has sought to bravely share his journal with the world, embellished by art with a meditative appeal. These are nuggets of wisdom but not literary masterpieces. The Camel case of some words in the sentences is distracting.
I found the book to have a serene soul, and it made me inclined to like it and explore it more, especially the artwork. Sometimes, in the cacophony of big words and loud art, you want a simple pocketbook to recall the simplicity of life within the complex workings of the world. As a beginner student of Spanish, I also read the Spanish translations as a revision exercise. This book can be embraced for its simplicity and artwork and bite-sized musings on creation, success, love, beauty, the quest of the poet, and even the pet lover.