December23,2014AMan'sLife

TheChurchillSchoolofAdulthoodLesson#3:LiveRomantically

WhenNevilleChamberlainbroughtChurchillintohiscabinetin1939toserveasFirstLordoftheAdmiralty(meaningherantheBritishnavy),Winstonhitthegroundrunning.Hetookchargeofeveryelementofthewaratsea,andbeganstrategizingabouthowtoimprovethingsatalllevels.Theheartofhiscontrolcenterwashisblackdispatchbox;Manchesterdescribesitscontents:

Insidewerenumberedfolderscontainingpapersapproximately16x13.Thefirstone,thetopofthebox,asitwascalled,dealtwithmattersconsideredreallyurgentBelowthetopwerefolderscontainingmilitaryandforeignofficetelegrams,reportsfromtheChiefsofStaffanswerstoquestionshehadraisedconcerningeveryaspectofBritishlifefoodsupplies,cropyields,railroadcapacity,coalproduction.Nothingescapedhisattention.

EachmorningChurchillwouldgothroughhisdispatchboxandissueaseeminglynever-endingstreamofmemostohisfellowministersandmilitarycommanders.Ifhesignedadispatchinredink,itmeanthewantedactiontakenonit;anattachedsliplabeledActionThisDayconstitutedtheprimeministerialequivalentofafive-alarmfire.Churchillscolleaguessometimesfoundthesheernumberofmemoshedisbursedonerous;theydidnot,Manchesterwrites,appreciateChurchillsgraspofalltheissues,notonlythoseissuesapparenttoeverybodybutalsothoseapparentonlytohimself.Churchillssingle-mindedgoalwasdefeatoftheNazis,andhemadesurehewasontopofeverydetailofhowtheefforttowardsvictorywasprogressing.YeteventhoughChurchillcouldbehard-nosed,grounded,andhighlydetail-oriented,hewasalso,Manchestersays,anunrepentantromantic.Anditwasthisquality,morethananyother,thatallowedhimtowinthewar.And,wewouldadd,tohaveanawesomeadulthood.

WinstonChurchillsRomanticism

WandererAbovetheSeaofFogbyCasparDavidFriedrich.Theysayapictureisworthathousandwords,andevenifyoudontknowmuchaboutRomanticism,allyouneedtounderstandaboutitcanbefoundincontemplatingthispainting.Whilewecommonlyuseromanticthesedaystodescribetheardorofrelationships,todayweretalkingaboutRomanticismwithabigR:alifephilosophythatprizestherejectionofpurerationalisminfavorofintuition,imagination,andemotion;theembraceofnonconformityandsincerity;atendencytowardsnostalgia;andthecelebrationofcuriosity,spontaneity,andwonder.Churchillhadallthesequalitiesinspades,andtheyfedtheinexhaustiblewellspringthatrefreshedhisbuoyancyandenthusiasmuntiltheendofhisdays.

ASenseofWonder

Evenashematuredintooneofthe20thcenturysgreateststatesman,Churchillneverlosthisearnestnessandboyishwonderabouttheworld.HisfriendVioletBonhamCarterattributedthisqualitytohislackofformaleducation(heattendedamilitaryacademyinsteadofaliberalartscollege).Churchill,sheobserved,lackedthejadedcynicismthatoneoftenpicksupatauniversityalongwithasheepskin,andwasinvigoratedbysimpletruthsthatothersfoundclich.ToWinstonChurchill,Carterwrote,everythingunderthesunwasnewseenandappraisedasonthefirstdayofCreation.Hisapproachtolifewasfullofardorandsurprise.Eventheeternalveritiesappearedtohimtobeanexcitingpersonaldiscovery.Wonderisinnervatedbyasenseofcuriosity,andChurchillkepthiscontinuallynourishedwithasteadydietofcontemplation,travel,adventure,andthelifelongstudyofhistory(moreonthoselatterthreepursuitsinfutureinstallments).Whetherinabookoraforeignland,hewasalwaysexperiencingthedelightofdiscovery.

AnImaginative,EpicViewofLifeRomanticartistssoughttocreateoriginalworksthatsprangfromtheirunfetteredimagination.WhileChurchillwasanavidpainterinhissparetime,thegreatestcanvasforhisimagination

wastrulylifeitself.Herefusedtoseetheworldasdullandconstrained,butrathervieweditasamagnificent,wide-openlandscapeofpossibilities,wheretheforcesofgoodandtheforcesofevildidbattle.Anyman,whohadthecourageandwill,couldmakehimselfaheroandjointhefight.

Throughthepowerofwords,Churchillbroughttolifehisromantic,heroicvisionoftheworldbothforhimselfandforhiscountrymen.Manyoftheoriginalproductsofmansimaginationareinitiallygreetedwithscorn,andChurchillsrhetoricalstylewasnodifferent.Beforethewar,hiscriticsfelthimtobeoverlynaiveandfoundhisoratoryhyperbolicandoverwrought.EvenChurchillsblood,toil,tears,andsweatspeechnowrememberedsoreverentlywasdismissedbymanyatthetimeasjustanotherdoseofhisexaggeratedschmaltz.Butasthecrisisdeepened,itwasWinstonssingularvisionthatfueledhisindomitablefireandfight.Thewarwasmerelyavivid,large-scalemanifestationoftheepicwayhehadalwaysseentheworld,andwiththeforcesofeviladvancing,defeatwassimplynotanoption.Sotoo,Churchillwasabletopaintsucharich,romanticpictureofthewarinhisspeeches,thathiscountrymencouldactuallystepintoitandpartakeinhisconfidenceandhope.WhenChurchillspokeofthewar,Manchesterwrites,itwasntsqualidordemeaning;itwasnt,infact,likemodernwaratall.DestroyingtheNazisandtheirfhrerbecameanoblemission,andbyinvestingitwiththeauraofheroeslikeNelson,menEnglishmenhadhonoredsincechildhood,hemadetheUnionJackrippleandSt.Georgesswordgleam.IsaiahBerlindescribedthewayChurchillwasabletoinviteothersintohisworldandgetthemtoembracehisvision:

ThePrimeMinisterwasabletoimposehisimaginationuponhiscountrymenpreciselybecauseheappearedtothemlargerthanlifeandliftedthemtoanabnormalheightinamomentofcrisisit[turned]alargenumberofinhabitantsof

theBritishIslesoutoftheirnormalselvesand,bydramatizingtheirlivesandmakingthemseemtothemselvesandtoeachothercladinthefabulousgarmentsappropriatetoagreathistoricmoment,transformedcowardsintobravemen,andsofulfilledthepurposeofshiningarmor.

Churchillimaginedhimselfaherosjourneysoluminousandcompelling,thatotherswillinglysoughtaplaceinthestory.

AnEmbraceofNonconformitySomeoftheworksChurchillmostenjoyedreadingcamefromtheromantictranscendentalists,suchasEmersonandThoreau.AndhetookupthelatterschargethatWhosowouldbeamanmustbeanonconformist.InhisowndistinctlyChurchillianway,ofcourse.

Churchilllovedhistory,andhelovedtradition.Hisvenerationandenjoymentofceremony,color,gaiety,pageantry,andformality,Manchesterwrites,beganinyouthandearlymanhood,especiallyinthecompanyoftheofficersofthe4thHussars.Asacavalryman,his

militarydayshadbeenfulloflong,decorousbanquetdinnersinwhichhedonnedhisornateblueandgolduniformandpracticedhisbesttablemanners.Hecontinuedthetraditionofhavingsuchformalmealsafterheleftthemilitary;bothlunchanddinneratChartwellweredrawnoutaffairs,andthoughtheywerehostedinthecomfortofhisownhome,hedressedupforthemtothenines.Suchrituals,Churchillfelt,wereessentialforarich,satisfyinglife.

But,Churchillalsobrokefromthestatusquowhereverhesawfit.AsPugIsmay,hischiefmilitaryassistant,putit,Winstonveneratedtradition,butridiculedconvention.Fromhisloveofbeinginthenudetohisuniquedailyroutine,whenChurchillthoughttherewasabetterwayofdoingthings,hefollowedthatimpulse.Thisextendedtohispersonalstyle;thoughChurchill,ifanything,overdressedforformalaffairsheneverattendedParliamentinanythingotherthananold-fashionedfrockcoatandtophathedonnedfarlessconventionalgarbinsituationswhereupholdingdecorumwasntasimportant.Athome,whenhewasntnaked,hepaddedaroundinagreenandgoldsilkdressinggown,emblazonedwithdragons.Duringairraidsheslippedintowhatbecameanemblematicget-up:hissirensuit.Churchilldesignedthesemauve,one-piece,zipperedrompershimself,andhadthemcustom-madebythetailorsonSavileRow.Hedelightedinhissirensuitsutilityassoonastheairraidalarmssounded,hecouldhoprightintoitandpreparefortheimminentshelling.Hehadotheramusingquirks:hetalkedtohiscats,waltzedaroundtorecordslateatnight,supportinganimaginarypartnerandcomposinghisspeechesashewhirledaroundtheroom,andplayedaroundsomuchduringhisdailybathsevendoingsomersaultsthathe

hadaspecialdrainbuilttocatchtheoverflow.Churchillperhapsbuckedsocietalnormsmost,however,simplyinhowgenuinehewas.Themanthatpeopleheardontheradio,whotheysawinParliament,wasexactlythesamemanathome.Hetrulywaswithoutguile.Heneverputonafront,tookpositionshedidnotbelievein,orevincedtobeotherthanwhathewas.HerefusedtoevensignhislettersSincerelyunlesshewasreally,trulysincereaboutthemissivesmessage.

IntuitionHismindhadmanytracks,andifonewasblocked,heleftitandturnedtoanother,theveryexistenceofwhichwasunknownuntilhechosetorevealit.WilliamManchester

Inhisleadership,Churchillwasfundamentallyguidedbyintuition.AswediscussedinregardstoChurchillsmoralcode,hehaddecidedinhisyouthnottodiscardthereasonsoftheheartforthoseofthehead.Asaconsequence,hewasoftenaccusedofbeingirrational.Ratherthanbeinsulted,hecheerfullyadmittedtothecharge,counteringthatsowastheessenceoflifeitself:

Thehumanstorydoesnotalwaysunfoldlikeanarithmeticalcalculationontheprinciplethattwoandtwomakefour.Sometimesinlifetheymakefive,orminusthree,andsometimestheblackboardtopplesdowninthemiddleofthesumandleavestheclassindisorderandthepedagoguewithablackeye.Theelementoftheunexpectedandtheunforeseeableiswhatgivessomeofitsrelishtolife,andsavesusfromfallingintothemechanicthraldomofthelogicians.

OneofChurchillsfirstexperienceswiththepowerofintuitionoccurredduringhisescapefromaPOWcampduringtheBoerWar.Hehadnoideawhichwaytoheadtoreachfreedomandfeltcompletelyconfusedandanxious.Justthen,aninsighthithim:Suddenlywithouttheslightestreasonallmydoubtsdisappeared.Itwascertainlybynoprocessoflogicthattheyweredispelled.Ijustfeltquiteclear[where]Iwouldgo.ChurchillendedupattheonehomeforhundredsofmilesinwhichtheinhabitantswerefriendlytotheBritish.

Churchillcontinuedtorelyonhisintuitionashegotolder.Itnotonlyguidedhisdecisions,butalsogavehiminsightsandpremonitionsaboutthefuture.Hepossessed,Manchesterposits,thepaintersgiftforseeingmyriadvistas,farandnear.HewasoneofthefirstpublicfigurestorecognizethedangerHitlerposed,andhealsoconceivedofavisionofhowthecountrywouldhavetobeunitedtodefeathim.Andthiswasfarfromhisonlyaccurateprediction;ChurchillforetoldthepolicyofMAD(mutuallyassureddestruction),thepotentialanddangersofatomicenergy,bioengineeringofcropsandanimals,theinventionofthetelevision,andmore.WhileChurchillwassometimeslampoonedforhisideaswhenhefirstarticulatedthem,hispresciencewasfrequentlyborneoutintime.AsHaroldMacmillan,oneofChurchillswartimeministersobserved,Itisstrangehow,abroadaswellasathome,whatChurchillputsforwardoneyearasadaringparadox,becomesanacceptedtruismayearlater.

SentimentandEmotion

Churchillnotonlyunapologeticallyembracedthepowerofintuition,hecheerfullyadmittedtobeingsentimentalandemotionalaswell.Hewascapableofexperiencingbothintensejoyanddeepgloom,andheoncebattledoutrightdepression.Thishasspurredamyththathewasplaguedwithwhathecalledtheblackdoghiswholelifethrough,butitseemsheratherwasperiodicallyhitwithboutsofmelancholythatfallshortofclinicaldepression.Suchdespairwouldoftenarriveontheheelsofsometerriblenewsfromthewar,butChurchillwouldinvariablyshakeoffhisdespondencyandreturntoastateofconfidentbullishness.Onethingisforsure:hefeltthingsdeeply.Imablubberer,hegladlyconfessedtofriends,andManchestersaysthatnomanweptmoreeasily.Reminiscingwitholdcomradescouldmakehimmisty-eyedandhewouldfreelymournthedeathsofhisbelovedpets.Evencomposingemotionalsegmentsofhisspeechescouldpromptatorrentoftearsbothfromhimandhissecretaries.Asoneofthemrecalled,Iwouldbeweepingandhewouldbeweeping,andallthewhilehewasdictatinginhismarvelousvoiceandIdbetap-tappingaway,thebothofusweeping.Churchillsagnosticismdidnotdiminishhissenseofthesacredandthesentimentalemotionsheexperiencedduringreligiousceremonies;heweptathisgrandsonsbaptism,

andwhilesingingOGod,OurHelpinAgesPastwithacrewofBritishsailors.Hisdoubtsabouttheexistenceofaspiritualrealmlikewisedidntnegatehisabilitytoexperiencemultipleplanesofexistence,asisexemplifiedbyhisdescriptionofwhatitfeltliketobepresentintheHouseofCommonsonthedayBritaindeclaredwaronGermany:

asIsatinmyplace,listeningtothespeeches,averystrongsenseofcalmcameoverme,aftertheintensepassionsandexcitementsofthelastfewdays.Ifeltaserenityofmindandwasconsciousofakindofuplifteddetachmentfromhumanandpersonalaffairs.ThegloryofOldEngland,peace-lovingandill-preparedasshewas,butinstantandfearlessatthecallofhonour,thrilledmybeingandseemedtoliftourfatetothosespheresfarremovedfromearthlyfactsandphysicalsensation.

Churchillenjoyedmusic,literature,andpoetrythatstirredhisemotionsandofferedhimaccesstothesedeeperlayersoflife.NotonlydidheloveandmemorizevirilepoemslikeHoratiusandInvictus,butheknewreamsofromanticpoetrybyheartaswell,andwasespeciallyfondofLordByronsverse.

SolitudeandContemplationToponderhisemotionsandreceiveintuitiveinsights,Churchillwasfondofspendingtimesilentlyreflecting.Partofhisdailyroutinewastosettleintoawickerchairbyapondonhispropertyafterlunch,andheespeciallylovedsittingbythefireinhisbedroom.Allthestovesinhishomewereheatedwithcoal,exceptforthisfireplace,inwhichheinsistedonusingwood.Hedsitinfrontofthecracklingflamesforlongperiods,pokingthelogs,andcontemplatingtheworldandhisroleinit.

TakeawaysfromLesson#3

Whenyoureachild,theworldisfilledwithpromiseandpossibility,andyoursenseofwonderiseasilykindled.Youfeelsurethattreasureanddinosaurbonesareburiedinyourbackyard,youdreamofbeinganastronaut,andwhenitcomestotheexcitementofChristmasEvefugetaboutit.Lifeseemslikeitwillproceedasanunendingstretchoffunandgoodfortune.Astheyearsgobyandyoumature,youfindthattheworlddoesntalwaysoperateasyouhadhoped.Santaisntreal.Yourfirstlovedumpsyou.Youdontgetintothecollegeyouwereaimingfor.Youdontlandyourdreamjob.Youdaddiesbeforeyourethirty.Yourwifehasamiscarriage,andithurtsmorethanyoudaredbelieve.Youlearntoberealistic,tomanageyourexpectations.Youputupwalls.Youtrustless.Youcloakyourselfincynicismtomitigatethestingoffuturedisappointments.Nothingreallyexcitesyouthewayitdidasaboy.Mehbecomesyourwatchword;Itiswhatitisbecomesyourbattlecry.Butwhatifwhatitiscouldbedifferent?Whatifyouhadthepowertoreclaimwonderandoptimism,simplybyreframingyourlifewithamoreromanticpointofview?

ButImJustanOrdinaryGuy!

Iknowwhatyoumaybethinking:Sure,itwaseasyforsomeonelikeChurchilltoembracearomanticviewoflifetheepicthingsheexperiencedwereromantic.ButImnotbattlingtheBigOne,Imjustlivingareallyordinaryexistence.Churchillcertainlyhadsomeincomparableadventures,boththosehesoughtintentionally,andthosethatfatethrustuponhim.YetitiswelltorememberthatChurchilldidnotbecomeprimeministeruntilhewas65;hisromanticismwasnotbirthedduringWWIIbutwassomethinghehadcultivatedfromhisyouth.Andwhilehehadplentyofotheradventuresinthosesixdecadesbeforethewar,again,thoseadventuresdidntinspirehisromanticism;rather,itwastheotherwayaround:hisromanticmindsetinspiredhimtoseekadventure.Sotoo,hiswholelifedidntconsistofendlesslyexcitingepisodes;inmanyyearshislifewasmuchlikethatofothercitizens.Anditwashisromanticismthatmadesuchlullsmoreinterestingandsatisfyingthantheyotherwisewouldhavebeen.Finally,aswevediscussed,Churchillsenduring,lifelongromanticismwasinfactwhatpreparedhimtobeaneffectiveleaderoncehehadfinallybeenthrownontoamonumentallyheroicstage.Whetherornotourliveseverintersectwithsomeepictask,livingmoreromanticallywillmakeeventhemostrun-of-the-millday-to-dayexistencefarricherandmoreluminousthanitwouldhavebeenotherwise.Youcanchoosetoseethepossibilitiesoflifeasone-dimensional:peoplearejustsmarterapes;arainydayisjustaweatherpattern;thatstirringinmygutisjustindigestionfromeatingahamsandwich.Or,youcanchoosetopickuponotherenergiesintheworldandseedifferentlayersinlife:peoplearepotentialheroes;arainydayisachancetoreflectandexperiencetheparadoxicallyexquisitetremorofmelancholy;thestirringinmygutisguidingmetowardsacertainpath.AuthorDavidFosterWallacearguedina2005commencementaddresstoKenyonCollegethatthisabilitytoconstructmeaningfromexperiencewasperhapsthemostimportantskillfornewly-mintedadultstolearn.Ifyoumasterit,hepromised,itwillevenbewithinyourpowertoexperienceacrowded,hot,slow,consumer-helltypesituationasnotonlymeaningful,butsacred,onfirewiththesameforcethatmadethestars:love,fellowship,themysticalonenessofallthingsdeepdown.

HowtoLiveMoreRomanticallyManchesterarguesthatitwasacollisionoflogic,intuition,andimaginationthatmadeChurchillwhohewas.Itsalsothisverycombinationoftraitsthatmakesforaninterestingandfulfillingadulthood.Yetachievingabalanceoftheseenergiesisnteasy,asitinvolvesweddingtogetherabunchofdifferentapproachestolife:

Beinggrounded,logical,anddetail-orientedbutalsointuitiveBeingclear-eyedandrealisticbutalsoimaginativeBeingsteadyandresolutewhilealsoallowingoneselftofeeldeeplyEmbracingtraditionwhilelivingunconventionally

Churchillhimselfspokeontheseseemingcontradictionsandcomplexities:Nourishyourhopesbutdonotoverlookrealities.Factsarebetterthandreams.

Imaginationwithoutdeepandfullknowledgeisasnare.Beingabletoassessrealitywithcompletelycleareyes,whilesimultaneouslyexercisingthecapacitytoseeitromantically,isarare,butattainablegift.Inincorporatingthesedivergentenergiesintooneslife,theeffectissomethinglikeaparticlecolliderthecontactbetweenyourdifferentbeliefs/ideas/interestscreatesaccesstonewknowledgeandplanesofexistencethatwouldnthavebeenpossibleotherwise.Butmostadultsdontwanttomaketheefforttoharnessthatlevelofenergy;fittingonesidentityintoafarsimplernarrativeismucheasier.Thus,someadultscarrytheimaginativepowersoftheirchildhoodintotheirlatteryears,butfailtocouplesuchimpulseswithasobergraspofresponsibility,andendupasperennialflakes.Mostadultsgotheotherwaytheyneglecttheircreativeandintuitiveimpulsesaltogether,andadoptacynical,starklyrealisticviewoflife.Theworldiswhatitis;whatyouseeiswhatyouget.Andwhattheygetisaflat,one-dimensionalexistence.Thereisunfortunatelynoroadmapforhowtoachieveauniquemiddlepathbetweentheseall-too-commonsurrenderstoamediocreadulthood.Whenitcomestolivingromantically,oneshouldntfollowaroadmapeitheritssomethingyoushoulddiscoverthoughcontemplationandintuition!Withthatsaid,hereareafewgeneralsuggestionsonincorporatingmoreofthespiritofromanceintoyourlife:

FindYourMuse

Aswelldiscussinfutureinstallments,Churchillsromanticpassionsweremostinvigoratedbystudyinghistoryandparticipatinginwar.Butlikemanyromantics,hewasalsoinspiredbynature.Personally,Ifindthatnothingstirsthesoulquitelikebeinginthegreatoutdoors.NowhereelsedoIfindagreaterrenewalofmychildlikewonder,senseofawe,andbeliefinthemysteryanddepthoflife.TheeffectisbestdescribedbyEmerson:

Crossingabarecommon,insnowpuddles,attwilight,underacloudedsky,withouthavinginmythoughtsanyoccurrenceofspecialgoodfortune,Ihaveenjoyedaperfectexhilaration.Iamgladtothebrinkoffear.Inthewoodstoo,amancastsoffhisyears,asthesnakehisslough,andatwhatperiodsoeveroflife,isalwaysachild.Inthewoods,isperpetualyouth.

Whateveryourownmuse,everyadultneedssomethingthatperiodicallyawakensthemfromtheslumberofapathyandcynicismandreinvigoratestheirspirit.

ParticipateinRituals,BothTraditionalandofYourOwnMakingThepowerandpotentialofritualsaremyriad:theylendanarrativestructuretoyourheros

journey,fosterasenseofwonderandawe,actasaconduitforintuitiveinsights,facilitatepersonaltransformations,andputyouintouchwiththerichpossibilities,deeperlayers,andsacredrealmswithinourordinary,profaneexistence.Whiletraditionalritualsmayseemantitheticaltothecreativespontaneityprizedbyromantics,theyparadoxicallycanbethemostinspiringandtransportive.Forexample,fewthingsrenewmysenseofwonderandmysterylikeattendingChristmasEveMass.Evensimpleritualsliketableetiquettelendanextratexturetoourday-to-dayexistence.Upholdingsuchtraditionsnotonlylendsrichnesstoyourownlife,butcreatesasharedworldwithothersatimeoutoftimethatfeelsextra-ordinary.Buttherearetimestobeanonconformist,too.Creatingyourownrituals,suchasestablishingauniquedailyroutine,orsimplymakingcoffeewithaFrenchpresseachmorning,canplaceusinacalm,focusedmindsetthatopensourspirittoreceivingthecurrentsofintuitionandgettingintouchwiththeenergiesandrhythmsoflife.

IntentionallyStirYourEmotionsWhentheprefrontalcortexthedisciplined,rational,executivepartofthebrainfinishessettlinginyourmid-twenties,youbegintoexperienceemotionslessintensely.Theupsideofthisisthatyoullfeelsteadierandexperiencefarlessofthejaggedemotionalhighsandlowscommontoyouth.Butthedownsideisadecreaseinpassion,andmoreflatnesstoyourfeelings.Thisiswhygrownupsoftenseemdullandlackinginpassionanddepth.Tomaintainalittlemoreemotionalrichnessinadulthood,withoutsacrificingthesolidfootingofmaturitythatsessentialformakingprogress,itsimportantforadultstointentionallypartakeinexperiencesthatpiquetheirdeeperfeelings.SotakeatipfromtheVictorians,who,whiletheyvaluedkeepingastiffupperlipduringlifesunpredictablestorms,purposefullyengagedtheiremotionsattimesoftheirownchoosing.ForChurchill,thismeantlisteningtomusicfromhisyouthandthe19thcenturyingeneral(aperiodofhistoryhewasnostalgicfor),readingromanticpoetry,andallowinghimselftobesentimentalaboutspecialeventsandrituals.Forexample,ChristmaswasChurchillsfavoritetimeofyear,andhewouldabsolutelydeckoutthehallsofhishousewithdecorationsthatevokedtheseason,andallitsnostalgic,heartwarmingsentiments.AllofChurchillsmethodsareeffective,especiallylisteningtomusic.Turningonasongfromthedaysofyourpassionateyouthcanbringbackthedeepfeelingsthatusedtoruleyourheart,andlisteningtomusicyouenjoyedduringanysignificantperiodofyourlifestirsthoseoldmemoriesandtheiraccompanyingemotions.EveryonceinawhileIllputanalbumthatgotalotofplayduringanimportanttimeofmylifeintoametaphoricalvault;Iwontlistentoitforyears,andthenwilllaterdustitoffoccasionallytopurposefullytransportmyselfbackintotheemotionallandscapeofthepast.Churchillhadasimilaridea:

IhavegottunesinmyheadforeverywarIhavebeento,andindeedforeverycriticalorexcitingphaseinmylife.Somedaywhenmyshipcomeshome,Iamgoingtohavethemallcollectedingramophonerecords,andthenIwillsitinachairandsmokemycigar,whilepicturesandfaces,moodsandsensationslong-

vanishedreturn;andpalebuttruetheregleamsthelightofotherdays.

ReframeYourReality

Acentralpartofimbuingyourlifewithgreaterromanticismisbeingableto,asWallaceputit,constructmeaningfromexperience.Youhavetobeabletoshiftthenarrativeonanyexperience,nomatterhowdifficultormundane.Wallacegivestheexampleofconsideringtheguywhocutyouoffintraffic;ratherthanjustbeingana-hole,hemaybeinahurrybecausehestakinghissontothehospital.Thiskindofre-framingisntaboutbeingnavebutconceivingofotherpossibilitiesforagivensituation.Areyouslavingawayatajobyoudontlike,orventuringouteachdaytoprotectyourfamilyfromhungerandwant?Arepeoplejustcallous,oriseverymanfightingahardbattlehiddenfromview?Ismarriageahardslog,oranexcitingjourney?Isalayofftheendofyourdreams,orthebeginningofanewadventure?Iswhateverchallengeyoureexperiencingamiserableturnofevents,orachancetobecomeabetterman?Ifyouembracethechancetoauthoryourownlife,themeaningofsuchthingsisneversetin

stone.Squalidorromanticitsyourstory,andyoudecide.

MakeTimeforReflectionThegreatestenemyofromanticismisthebusynessinherenttoadultlife.Emotions,intuitiveinsights,asenseofwondersuchcurrentscanonlybeaccessedfromaplaceofstillness.Whenourlivesconsistofrushingfromoneto-dotothenext,weareforcedtoexistononlythemostsuperficiallayeroflife.Romanticismislikeafaintradiosignalwemusthomeinonwithinaworldofstatic:wecanonlyhearitwhenwebreakawaytoaquietplace,emptyourmindofothernoise,andfocusonfindingit.Timesofprayer,meditation,andoverallreflectionarethereforeessentialtokeepusintune.LayingundertheChristmastreetolookupatthelightsdoesnthurteither.WilliamWordsworth,thequintessentialromanticpoet,wroteafewlinesofversethatsumallofthisupsplendidly:

MyheartleapsupwhenIbeholdArainbowinthesky:Sowasitwhenmylifebegan;SoisitnowIamaman;SobeitwhenIshallgrowold,Orletmedie!TheChildisfatheroftheMan;AndIcouldwishmydaystobeBoundeachtoeachbynaturalpiety.

OrasChurchillputit,Itisquiteastonishingtoreachtheendoflifeandfeeljustasyoudidfiftyyearsbefore.Whenwasthelasttimeyourheartleaptuptoembracethewonderandaweandmysteriesoflife?TheWinstonChurchillSchoolofAdulthoodwilladjournforwinterbreak,andreconveneinJanuary.Seeyouthen!

ReadtheEntireSeriesTheWinstonChurchillSchoolofAdulthoodIsNowinSessionAPrerequisiteClassonBecomingtheAuthorofYourOwnLifeLesson#1:DevelopaMightyMoralCodeLesson#2:EstablishaDailyRoutineLesson#4:CultivateaNostalgicLoveforHistoryLesson#5:DontGiveUpYourSenseofAdventureLesson#6:DontBeAfraidtoStartaFamilyLesson#7:WorkLikeaSlave;CommandLikeaKing;CreateLikeaGodTipsonHustling,Leadership,andHobbiesfromWinstonChurchillConclusion:Thought+Action=AnAwesomeAdulthood

_________________________________________Sources:TheLastLionTrilogybyWilliamManchesterBrettandKateMcKay16Comments

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