My inspiration for this post came from my dear, longtime blogging friend, Debbie @ Musings by an ND Domer's Mom, who is not only a gifted...
This post was inspired by something actress, Helena Bonham Carter shared in a podcast I found on YouTube over the weekend.
First, allow me to say that a HUGE percentage of my favorite actors/actresses hail from the UK - Helena Bonham Carter is one of them.
Not only is she one of my faves because of her incredible talent as an actress, but there is also something about her as a person I've always found attractive. She has a light that shines from within that comes through in every interview I've watched. I admire how real, down-to-earth, and comfortable she is being herself. She's also very funny. I find myself listening closely to whatever she's saying, not wanting to miss a single word.
I find her captivating.
And after watching this podcast, even more so. There were so many things she shared about how she views acting, which was so in sync with my own views when I was a stage actor. I also strongly identified with her outlook on life, using difficult experiences to learn and grow, staying optimistic, and not seeing yourself as a victim. And parts of her childhood were very similar to my own. One thing she said that struck a cord was - "I was born an old soul" - I too felt that as a child.
At one point in the podcast, she talked about something that happened when she was 13 years old, concerning her father. She said, "It's up to us what we make of those experiences, not allowing them to defeat us". Which is exactly what I have always told myself. Even as a child I instinctively sensed that.
Something I thought was brilliant is a quote she has posted above her desk in her home office so that anytime she looks up, she'll be reminded. The quote comes from Itzhak Perlman, who was a polio survivor and a wheelchair-bound violin virtuoso.
"Our job is to make music with what remains."
I found that quote incredibly inspiring. It's the people who have had tremendous obstacles placed before them and overrode them I tend to follow because I want to learn from what they learned. And I also want to learn from the people who don't always get what they want. Because let's face it, we are not always going to get what we want. We're going to get what we need. And getting what we need is not always easy.
Hard times are unavoidable. We will all have to deal with them throughout our lives. They seem to come in waves. But it's what we make of them that determines what they do to us. They can harden us and make us fearful and paralyzed. Or they can soften us and make us all the wiser and richer.
For me, I find that embracing hard times gives me an awareness of their purpose in my life. The more I resist them, the more pain I feel. The closer I bring them to me, the easier it gets because I receive clarity and can move through them.
Anyhoo, I wanted to share this post today not only because I found the quote (and Helena Bonham Carter) so inspiring. But for anyone who might be going through a tough time and feels the need for some inspiration.
Right now, all over the world, things seem to have reached a crescendo of chaos. And I intend to do the opposite by not adding anything to that chaos. But rather making music with what remains.
Thank you, Itzhak!
Play on, everyone!
And make music...🎵
Several other UK favorites are:
Men - Colin Firth, Ewan McGregor, Anthony Hopkins, Steve Coogan, and Bill Nighy.
Women - Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Emily Blunt, Olivia Colman, and Helen Mirren.
I could probably name 50 more!
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