What Anne Lamott has said about Somehow: Thoughts on Love

Lamott says that releasing her grip on an outcome, rather than forcing it, is usually what allows the hoped-for result to arrive.

“It's when I release it and stop, you know, breathing my hot breath down its neck that I often get what I had hoped for”

TED Radio Hour: Addiction, motherhood and Jesus with writer Anne Lamott (Jul 31, 2026) · Listen from 19:31

Lamott recounts accepting Neil's marriage proposal on the condition that they get another cat, despite his allergy.

“And I said, well, can we get another cat? Because he's violently allergic to cats. And he said, okay. And I said, all right, then I can marry you”

TED Radio Hour: Addiction, motherhood and Jesus with writer Anne Lamott (Jul 31, 2026) · Listen from 39:28

Lamott says her book is mostly about the frightening reality of being deeply loved despite one's character defects.

“we are just deeply loved and And it's scary. It can be scary”

TED Radio Hour: Addiction, motherhood and Jesus with writer Anne Lamott (Jul 31, 2026) · Listen from 41:22

Lamott interprets her Havana dream through Carl Jung's idea that every figure in a dream is the dreamer, recognizing herself in the woman she resented.

“But wait, if you believe Carl Jung, everyone in a dream is us”

TED Radio Hour: Addiction, motherhood and Jesus with writer Anne Lamott (Jul 31, 2026) · Listen from 44:10