Greetings, I had recently posted a thread: http://emptyclosets.com/forum/lgbt-later-life/139467-decided-end-therapy.html Where I ended my work with the therapist I had been seeing for almost a year. What I failed to mention was that I ended the session by stating that I was at an age where finding a meaning to my life has become important. My therapist agreed and we left it at that. Then along came this TED talk by Andrew Solomon: [YOUTUBE]RiM5a-vaNkg[/YOUTUBE] ...which taught me something I had a feeling was nearer to the truth: meaning isn't found, like some self-existent entity, hidden in some far off place, the meaning of my life is forged in the telling of my story, shaped from the deep experiences of my life; all the joys and the trials...and in this forging, Solomon tells us, lies identity. Solomon ended his talk with the following, which every one of us ought to burn into our hearts and minds: In this season of Pride, it is important to forge meaning out of the adversity, actual or potential that is the life of being LGBTQ. It is our task to tell our story to as many as will listen. As Solomon said, we can hold our heads high, with pride in who we are, and still be massively pissed off at what the world will throw at us. Happy Pride! (!)
Andrew Solomon's TED talks are riveting, insightful, and incredibly moving. I keep returning to them when I need a little guidance and support on my own journey. Two quotes of his that resonate: "The opposite of depression is not happiness, but vitality." and, as greatwhale mentioned, "Forge meaning. Build identity."
