A delightfully charming interview:
Stephen Colbert speaking with author Toni Morrison.
During the interview, Toni mentions how she believed that everything she'd ever want to read had already been written. Then... in her late 30's, she realized she wanted something else. Something more. Her heart yearned to protest the violations that common social constructs* inflict upon the dis-empowered and unpopular. These injustices were all around her, in ways both subtle and direct.
So at the age of 39... she started writing. She started speaking out.
I think that's a fine age to re-focus the way your life is going. With the novelty of youth behind you, it's reasonable to start seeking greater satisfaction. The dreaded 'Mid-Life' crisis, so easily ridiculed by the media, is really just an easy target; an inventive way of shaming people. But what if, rather than grown men acting like schoolboys and women getting botox, this revelatory awakening in a person's life aligned with something less superficial?
It could be. Not for everyone, however -- sometimes that new sports car is indeed a cry for help. But it's also true that such changes can be a direct and intentional act of metamorphosis. A sign that a person has figured out some things about themselves and their relationship to the world. When we realize what is needed in order to create our own fulfillment, real change feels like our only choice. We are compelled.
When done right -- you can literally see a progression by which new factors have encouraged someone's personal growth! After all, these sweeping redesigns tend to be very specific: they are not born from impulse ... but the results of well-examined plans and intent.
Some, which eventually reveal themselves to have been the right choice all along.
If you're going to be worth a damn in this life, you'll need to embrace the notion of releasing yourself. Your realized self. The one who takes risks, or promotes ideas which challenge traditions. If you're doing those things solely to thwart other people, likely you're misguided and need to reassess your spiteful designs. But --- if you're promoting positive, loving and sustainable choices... and the realities of your actions are completing you, you're growing.
Of course, not everyone will understand. Some people have an investment in the status quo. They have been conditioned to remain politely caged. Expect them to hiss at you for revealing the uncomfortable seating which comes with conformity. Somewhere along their journey, they traded any need to explore all possible versions of the Truth for the safeness of comfort.
But any mind which questions the moorings of such motives soon realizes that safety was always an illusion.
Thus, even quiet acts of desperation and nobility are fine ways to break the paradigm. You can jam the cogs of the machine with something it absolutely detests - unregulated satisfaction and spontaneous acts of Love and Defiance. When people choose to stop enforcing negativity, amazing things can happen!
And when we emancipate our regulated life, creating ourselves anew through sheer will of intelligent choice?
We push back. We break chains.
We forge a future of unrestrained possibilities, replete with Hope!
When Toni Morrison responds to Stephen's playful questions .... she's acting out.
Such confident and graceful repose! So eloquent ~ her revolution.
-C.D.
*In this instance, Toni is speaking of racism - but the thought can be applied to many things. This world is full of spears and cages - all struggling to keep everyone in place, when Love has always been the better design.
Stephen Colbert speaking with author Toni Morrison.
During the interview, Toni mentions how she believed that everything she'd ever want to read had already been written. Then... in her late 30's, she realized she wanted something else. Something more. Her heart yearned to protest the violations that common social constructs* inflict upon the dis-empowered and unpopular. These injustices were all around her, in ways both subtle and direct.
So at the age of 39... she started writing. She started speaking out.
I think that's a fine age to re-focus the way your life is going. With the novelty of youth behind you, it's reasonable to start seeking greater satisfaction. The dreaded 'Mid-Life' crisis, so easily ridiculed by the media, is really just an easy target; an inventive way of shaming people. But what if, rather than grown men acting like schoolboys and women getting botox, this revelatory awakening in a person's life aligned with something less superficial?
It could be. Not for everyone, however -- sometimes that new sports car is indeed a cry for help. But it's also true that such changes can be a direct and intentional act of metamorphosis. A sign that a person has figured out some things about themselves and their relationship to the world. When we realize what is needed in order to create our own fulfillment, real change feels like our only choice. We are compelled.
When done right -- you can literally see a progression by which new factors have encouraged someone's personal growth! After all, these sweeping redesigns tend to be very specific: they are not born from impulse ... but the results of well-examined plans and intent.
Some, which eventually reveal themselves to have been the right choice all along.
If you're going to be worth a damn in this life, you'll need to embrace the notion of releasing yourself. Your realized self. The one who takes risks, or promotes ideas which challenge traditions. If you're doing those things solely to thwart other people, likely you're misguided and need to reassess your spiteful designs. But --- if you're promoting positive, loving and sustainable choices... and the realities of your actions are completing you, you're growing.
Of course, not everyone will understand. Some people have an investment in the status quo. They have been conditioned to remain politely caged. Expect them to hiss at you for revealing the uncomfortable seating which comes with conformity. Somewhere along their journey, they traded any need to explore all possible versions of the Truth for the safeness of comfort.
But any mind which questions the moorings of such motives soon realizes that safety was always an illusion.
Thus, even quiet acts of desperation and nobility are fine ways to break the paradigm. You can jam the cogs of the machine with something it absolutely detests - unregulated satisfaction and spontaneous acts of Love and Defiance. When people choose to stop enforcing negativity, amazing things can happen!
And when we emancipate our regulated life, creating ourselves anew through sheer will of intelligent choice?
We push back. We break chains.
We forge a future of unrestrained possibilities, replete with Hope!
When Toni Morrison responds to Stephen's playful questions .... she's acting out.
Such confident and graceful repose! So eloquent ~ her revolution.
-C.D.
*In this instance, Toni is speaking of racism - but the thought can be applied to many things. This world is full of spears and cages - all struggling to keep everyone in place, when Love has always been the better design.
