Dr. James Hollis

How are you to show up today in this changed environment you see?

So, you know, the stages of life, you know, and Shakespeare wrote about the seven stages of life.

I think Erickson had eight stages.

And again, underneath this, these things happen, right?

And often one doesn't realize it.

One reads about it somehow.

It's sort of like when you're young.

Yes, I understand I'm mortal, but, you know, that happens to people out there.

You know, it's not part of my DNA, you see.

Well, it is.

And sooner or later, life is going to unfold, unless it's cut off in some way, you know?

And I remember reading, when I was in graduate school, a saying in ancient Greece that I saw in several different environments.

And it said, best of all is not to have been born.

Second best is to have died young.

And I thought, gee, how awful that is, right?

Well, I think I've understood why they were saying that.

If you're born into the veil of tears, so to speak, you're born into suffering, you're born into mortality, you're born into loss, and so forth.

If you're going to live, you're going to go through some of those.

If you live long enough, you'll go through the loss of people you love and care about.

You may outlive your children, as I've had an experience.