Greenlights

Random thoughts as I literally just finished listening to “Greenlights,” but need to continue on with my day:1) Outside of watching a few of his movies, Matthew McConaughey has never been on my radar, so I hadn't been compelled to read his memoir when it was published in 2020. 2) A friend (who is uninterested in self-development and spirituality) told me to read this book two years ago. She said I'd love it. I tucked away the suggestion and only recently decided to borrow it from the library because I caught a bit of his “Art of Living” YouTube presentation. (I think that's what it was called.)3) Normally I need to speed up the narrators, but I had to slow Matthew down. 4) He made me laugh so hard too many times to count, and half the time it wasn't even what he was saying, it was in his enthusiasm saying it. (Which is what I initially discovered when watching his YouTube presentation.)5) I have never heard someone talk about wet dreams as much as he did—even in books about puberty. Lol. 6) The physical book is incredibly interesting to look at—it's wonderfully creative. I'd like to get a copy, take off the sleeve with his face on it (my apologies, Matt) in order to showcase the cool green lights, and display it on my coffee table. However, I want it in good condition and for at least 40% off. Hello, new book hunt! 7) “We don't live longer when we try not to die. We live longer when we're too busy living.” Yes!8) Matthew is a fascinating person. I know myself enough to understand that if I don't write anything down now, I likely will never write anything down. There are too many books calling for me to open them, and my willpower is weak. It's difficult for me to choose writing over reading.

9) My Goodreads friend (I wish we could tag each other) Jennifer Welsh included these sentences in her outstanding review: “At first, this struck me as more of a fun, autobiographical stand-up routine than a memoir. Yet I Wondered if he was aware of how abusive his parents seemed as he told his crazy stories and declared how much love was in their household.”

I thought the same thing. I am endlessly amazed how people are unable to (or refuse to) recognize abusive family dynamics, and often justify it. It is mind boggling.