“Whoever we are, that is enough. It has to be, because whoever we are is all that we have, and all that we will ever have.”
The entire post is excellent, and these lines particularly so. I think there’s a hamster wheel that we apply to everything, even personal development. While development is great, I’m finding that a fundamental ‘enoughness’ is an acceptance of oneself.
I admire that you make it sound easy. On a deep level, what *could* be easier than being yourself? Reminds me of that old maxim: “Be yourself. Everyone else is taken.” 😊
Very cool! I think it's funny how very specific things stick with us, not because they're the best or even necessarily a favorite.
Like, the show Hery Arnold has stuck with me longer than most things from childhood for both funny and complicated reasons.
Also, I just recently read my first Louis L'Amour novel and was surprised how much I liked it! Surprised further by how much it seems like it must have influenced Cormac McCarthy's own westerns.
I wrote this on another post on The Books That Made Us: He (Louis L'Amour) is by far my favorite author of all time. One can get an education in history, philosophy, moral conduct, proper etiquette, courage, and how to be a gentle yet manly man and a strong, confident yet gracefully feminine woman. All in one book. A bygone era for sure. Then M.E. referred me to this article.
I encourage you to read all of his stuff. It will be an education in itself. Lot of Westerns, but a lot of other things as well.
Simply because I loved Justified and he conveyed Elmore Leonard’s dialogue so well, I’ll put Timothy Olyphant in there, too. Or a world-weary Ben Foster in 20 years.
I’ve not read any of L’Amour’s work - is this a pseudonym? I must look him up and get hold of some of his work. I wonder if this powerful simple code for life is transferable across continents and lifestyles. Thanks for a rather intriguing post!
Louis L'Amour is (was) his actual name, although when he was born it was LaMoore. You can get his books on Amazon or just about any other bookseller.
He's best known for his Western stories. One, "Hondo", started out as a short story, was expanded into a movie in 1953 directed by John Farrow and starring John Wayne and Geraldine Page. L'Amour then wrote the novelization of the movie script, which became a best seller.
As for how transferable the values and ethics of his characters are....that you'll have to read and decide for yourself!
dozens of novels - all great. Mostly westerns, but other things as well. Sitka, The Breed, and The Walking Drum are three of my favorite non-Western novels by him. Fascinating and profound in his ability to convey human character in very simple terms.
Peter I’ll have to check this book out. I’ve watched you gain more and more traction here for a long while now. By the virtue of your own internal “Conagher” your important work will reach more and more people. It needs to. Onward!!
I so appreciate your exploration of this book’s simple yet profound philosophy. Especially the poetic way he expresses brand loyalty. (I smiled at the lesson of where we get that word, “brand.”) And the segue into how you approach your newsletter hits home - your clarity may sound simple but (in my experience, anyway), such self-knowledge not necessarily easy to attain. Thank you.
When I was growing up my grandad had every Louis Lamar book and I read all of them. I can't think of a single character of his that wasn't an ordinary man.
Well, Flint was pretty spectacular, when you think about it. Can't exactly call a self made millionaire during the Robber Baron era "ordinary".
And Major Joseph Makatozi from "Last of The Breed" was definitely not what you'd expect in an Air Force pilot.
But as a rule, it's true that L'Amour's heroes were just men doing what they had to do using what they had at hand.
Which is part of L'Amour's genius. He presents his characters without artifice, without fanfare, without even much posturing. They're all just "there", if that makes any sense.
They make for good examples for living, that's certain.
“Whoever we are, that is enough. It has to be, because whoever we are is all that we have, and all that we will ever have.”
The entire post is excellent, and these lines particularly so. I think there’s a hamster wheel that we apply to everything, even personal development. While development is great, I’m finding that a fundamental ‘enoughness’ is an acceptance of oneself.
Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for the kind words!
100% agree with that sentiment, Priya
As someone with a lifelong struggle with being enough, this rings true for me as well.
Ah Julie! 💔 You are more than enough!
Thank you! 🌸
I suspect a good many people struggle with that. I certainly do!
(It's an easy thing to say. Bit harder to keep it mind in the day by day!)
I admire that you make it sound easy. On a deep level, what *could* be easier than being yourself? Reminds me of that old maxim: “Be yourself. Everyone else is taken.” 😊
What I tell people: I gotta be me...no one else wants the job!
Love it! May steal!
Go for it!
Very cool! I think it's funny how very specific things stick with us, not because they're the best or even necessarily a favorite.
Like, the show Hery Arnold has stuck with me longer than most things from childhood for both funny and complicated reasons.
Also, I just recently read my first Louis L'Amour novel and was surprised how much I liked it! Surprised further by how much it seems like it must have influenced Cormac McCarthy's own westerns.
I wrote this on another post on The Books That Made Us: He (Louis L'Amour) is by far my favorite author of all time. One can get an education in history, philosophy, moral conduct, proper etiquette, courage, and how to be a gentle yet manly man and a strong, confident yet gracefully feminine woman. All in one book. A bygone era for sure. Then M.E. referred me to this article.
I encourage you to read all of his stuff. It will be an education in itself. Lot of Westerns, but a lot of other things as well.
And could you even cast someone other than Sam Elliott to deliver those lines?
John Wayne would have done them justice. He was a good fit for "Hondo", after all.
Other than that....yeah, not too many could make a credible Conagher!
Simply because I loved Justified and he conveyed Elmore Leonard’s dialogue so well, I’ll put Timothy Olyphant in there, too. Or a world-weary Ben Foster in 20 years.
I’ve not read any of L’Amour’s work - is this a pseudonym? I must look him up and get hold of some of his work. I wonder if this powerful simple code for life is transferable across continents and lifestyles. Thanks for a rather intriguing post!
http://www.louislamour.com/aboutlouis/biography.htm
Louis L'Amour is (was) his actual name, although when he was born it was LaMoore. You can get his books on Amazon or just about any other bookseller.
He's best known for his Western stories. One, "Hondo", started out as a short story, was expanded into a movie in 1953 directed by John Farrow and starring John Wayne and Geraldine Page. L'Amour then wrote the novelization of the movie script, which became a best seller.
As for how transferable the values and ethics of his characters are....that you'll have to read and decide for yourself!
Thanks for this bit of extra info, Peter. I feel my horizons expanding...
dozens of novels - all great. Mostly westerns, but other things as well. Sitka, The Breed, and The Walking Drum are three of my favorite non-Western novels by him. Fascinating and profound in his ability to convey human character in very simple terms.
The Walking Drum is a fascinating take on European life during the High Middle Ages (12th century, if I remember correctly).
It's an interesting companion read with Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth.
I can't wait to get my hands on some of them. Thanks for the recommendations.
Peter I’ll have to check this book out. I’ve watched you gain more and more traction here for a long while now. By the virtue of your own internal “Conagher” your important work will reach more and more people. It needs to. Onward!!
Thanks!
"My internal 'Conagher'"....I like that!
I so appreciate your exploration of this book’s simple yet profound philosophy. Especially the poetic way he expresses brand loyalty. (I smiled at the lesson of where we get that word, “brand.”) And the segue into how you approach your newsletter hits home - your clarity may sound simple but (in my experience, anyway), such self-knowledge not necessarily easy to attain. Thank you.
Thank you! I'm glad you liked it!
When I was growing up my grandad had every Louis Lamar book and I read all of them. I can't think of a single character of his that wasn't an ordinary man.
Well, Flint was pretty spectacular, when you think about it. Can't exactly call a self made millionaire during the Robber Baron era "ordinary".
And Major Joseph Makatozi from "Last of The Breed" was definitely not what you'd expect in an Air Force pilot.
But as a rule, it's true that L'Amour's heroes were just men doing what they had to do using what they had at hand.
Which is part of L'Amour's genius. He presents his characters without artifice, without fanfare, without even much posturing. They're all just "there", if that makes any sense.
They make for good examples for living, that's certain.
‘Good examples for living’ is such a good way of putting it
Thanks!
@Peter Nayland Kust - Have read all of L'Amour's works. A vast education there. Simple and profound all in one. thanks for you post here.