Minutes of a Monday #18

Brain Food > A complex reordering

“It may not necessarily be a death, but there will be some kind of devastation. We see it happen to people all the time: a marriage breakdown, or a transgression that has a devastating effect on a person’s life, or health issues, or a betrayal, or a public shaming, or a separation where someone loses their kids, or whatever it is. And it shatters them completely, into a million pieces, and it seems like there is no coming back.

It’s over.

But in time they put themselves together piece by piece. And the thing is, when they do that, they often find that they are a different person, a changed, more complete, more realised, more clearly drawn person. I think that’s what it is to live, really — to die in a way and to be reborn. And sometimes it can happen many times over, that complex reordering of ourselves.”

Musician Nick Cave reflects on the death of his son Arthur, in an edited extract from his book Faith, Hope and Carnage.

Soul Food

"It is discouraging how many people are shocked by honesty and how many by deceit." Noel Coward

Rare Air

“In my 30’s, I suddenly felt like my life had value outside of my work….I think it was really hard for me to feel like I had value outside of my accomplishments.”

Actor Zoe Kazan talks about her shift in perspective on her career.

Appendix

“Christmas was nothing but a pagan festival covered with a Christian veneer.”

LOL

Roy Keane’s Christmas sparkle in the desert:

AOB

Wishing you nothing but the very best for the year up ahead - Niall