“Just about anybody can face a crisis. It’s that everyday living that’s rough.”
This quote is from the movie, The Country Girl, written and directed by, George Seaton (b. 1911, d. 1979), and starring Bing Crosby (b. 1903, d. 1977).
Adapted from Clifford Odet’s (b. 1906, d. 1963) play, of the same name, The Country Girl tells the story of an alcoholic, and former actor, struggling with the one last chance he has been given to resurrect his career.
Having not watched the movie, myself, I can only infer the deeper meaning of this quote in the context of my own experiences.
For me, this quote reminds me of the song Little Wheel Spin and Spin by Buffy Sainte-Marie (b. 1941) - it is the culmination of the thousand little steps we take that ultimately determine our fate; not individual crises.
Perhaps, not everyone can face a crisis, one could argue, but how many people have the self-awareness, determination, and bravery, to dismantle their unhealthy, negative, and toxic personal traits?
Isn’t it far easier to face a temporary crisis, than change your day-to-day behaviour patterns?
How many people do you know that move from break-up to break-up, but can never face the real reason they attract the wrong people - the person in the mirror?
Or the depressed colleague that moans about how boring and monotonous their job is each day, but can never stop drinking a bottle of red wine on a Friday night; when they could be drafting a new CV?
Take time for introspection. Learn what it is you would like to change in your day-to-day life, and why.
Life should never be lived with the handbrake on… get it into gear… and see how far you can go.
If you like Serfdom Road, please subscribe and share!