On Generosity

Hello friends,

Thanks for joining me today.

I recently had the chance to be in conversation with award winning cinematographer and musician Brad Rushing. We talked about creativity and film, of course, but mostly? We spoke on the importance of showing up, of kindness, and of generosity.

For too long, what I call the “overculture” has taught people that the way to have success is to keep our own best interests above those of other people’s. The only people we should support? Those who could do something for us. This concept is even baked into the language we sometimes use, at least in English. How do I know this? Earlier in this paragraph, I almost typed the words, “get ahead”. You know, how to “get ahead in life.”

But the very concept of getting ahead means that you are leaving others behind. Or worse, you are “leaving them in the dust.” The dust kicked up by your feet as you race past.

What a terrible way to live, right? This attitude is born of the marriage of rugged individualism, Calvinism, social climbing, and capitalism.

Generosity and kindness are antidotes to this. Generosity and kindness remind us that we are interconnected and rely on others. No one—and I do mean no one—is “self made.” Every time I see those two words when talking about successful people, I wince. “Self made” is a lie.

We are formed by circumstance, education, the environment we grow up in, the food we eat, the people who picked that food and prepared it, and the people, animals, and vistas we encounter each day. We are formed by film, music, books, and chance encounters. We are formed by meditation, rest, work, and play.

I create because I had an impulse toward that, early on. All children are creative in some form or another. The world is constantly creating, dying, changing, and rising around us.

So, don’t forget: You never have to go it alone, and you can ensure no one else does, either. All it takes is a kind word, or an offer of food, or an introduction. Or sometimes? All it takes is our presence in the world.

Wishing you well — Thorn

Want to listen to my conversation with Brad Rushing? You can do so at Magic, Creativity, and Life.

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