“No work is lost,” Carol simply states. Great words told to us today from an articulate orator, new friend, actor and parent.
In bridging to an understanding to our meeting we must allow our imaginations to return to The Renaissance, a time that supported by the invention of printing sped the dissemination of ideas from the later 15th century forward. An era of cultural movement that profoundly affected European intellectual life and by the 16th century it greatly influenced literature, philosophy, art, music, politics, science, religion and other aspects of intellectual inquiry.
I run into Carol during my daughter’s park day as she and her three adult children present a wonderfully entertaining and informed presentation on this historical benchmark in the advancement of mankind.
What is remarkable is that Carol does not read from a script, is seemingly un-rehearsed and carries more authenticity in her words than many a seasoned thespian.
What is her secret…? My take… Carol lives what she preaches, and I can see no better example of her humanistic outlook that of The Renaissance.
In so many ways The Renaissance aligns with the climate of our existing world. Compare the advent of the printing press of the 15th century to the growth of the web, new media and the easy access to information and communication of our current times. Or ponder the political, social and religious wars of the 21st century and link your thoughts to what the citizen of the 1400’s must have been experiencing.
We’ve talked of rule 20/20 hindsight and of looking to the past to predict the future. Makes me feel as if, in a way, we are at the gates of a second Renaissance. What are you thoughts…? We want to know?
Carol talks of her life growth, “Everything we go through is for our own good, and in all we learn, we either strengthen our patience or gain experience. This has always been true for me.”
Whatever Carol is doing, she is doing right in passing on this message. And in spending a little time speaking with her kids, two sons, one daughter and three grandchildren, all of whom are equally articulate, kind and giving, Carol’s wisdom is carried on. This in itself is a testament to the positive, forward thinking, outgoing and humanistically searching persona that Carol so peacefully emits.
I ask Carol to think about where we are going as a society.
“It could be really good or really bad, but I prefer to not dwell on focusing on it. I think it is more important to stay in the moment.” Carol summarizes.
Her perspective strikes me to consider a perspective. A set of self-questions really…
“What do I do with my life today?”
“How can I reach out to those around me today… not tomorrow… or next week?”
“Does it really matter who I support?”
“Can I let go… and allow myself to wholly look, listen and feel?”
“And if I do, will it make a difference in the long run?”
Carol is here at the park today, sharing what she has to share with a group of roughly eighty-five children and parents; none are critics, directors or producers, yet she is here, giving of her time and craft. Her words are of intellect and compassion. I ask myself, “With so many seasoned actors choosing to self grasp their talents in desire for the big lights. How many would do the same?”
Today Carol is a shining star of stunning physique, enlightening the minds of the next generation, and my hope is that they grasp a spark of what she has gifted to her park dwelling audience.
There is no stage, no orchestra, and no fanfare; just young, inquiring and growing minds, all captivated by the performance of Carol and her family. And in relation to the thinking of The Renaissance that they so eloquently are presenting, maybe a few minds have been influenced this afternoon.
Carol emphasizes, “I think it is more important to stay in the moment.”
I think, “A moment unshared is a moment lost.”
The question at hand it this, in Renaissance alignment, “Do we choose to question our existence, or do we not?”
And with the “In the moment” premise that Carol has placed before us, may we now relate it to the other aspects of her outlook per the future, “It could be really good or really bad, but I prefer to not dwell on focusing on it.”
In a way, I think Carol has charged us to relate what we do today to its influence on what is to come.
As quoted from the words of Malcolm X, “The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.”
Carol and family, “Bravo!”