The Real Secrets to Life

On TV this weekend I saw a public television piece on the Netherlands in which they covered the Danish writer Karen Blixen (sometime-writing pseudonym: Isak Dinesen), the author of Out of Africa.

{I was drawn in by her story, as they portrayed it, and needless to say I think now I can see myself reading Out of Africa and probably then watching the movie made of it....}

She seemed like quite the personality- and very bright. Philosophical; with depth.

One of the things they said on the program was that Karen Blixen was interviewed at one point and asked something like "What is the key to living life?"

Her answer:

There are three:

courage

the ability to love

a great sense of humor (-particularly about one's self)

I haven't yet found this quoted anywhere in print yet, but I'm looking. What a great answer. :)

I think that's one of the wisest answers I've ever heard.

I would agree too. I smiled as I heard each one; they're just what I'd have thought they should have been. And I can't think of anything that those three don't cover, over an entire human earthly life. It's awesome.

AH! And here is a quote from one of Karen's books, The Diver, which goes very well, if I do say, with the quote from St. Augustine currently up on my front page:

"For God does not create a longing or a hope without having a fulfilling reality ready for them. But our longing is our pledge, and blessed are the homesick, for they shall come home."

Yeah, I'm gonna have to put that one up...