I did not interview Krista Tippet (I wish). In the "Mystery and Art of Living" episode of her podcast On Being, writer Pico Iyer turns the tables on host Krista by asking her the questions. This is just a quote from the show in which which you can listen to in total here.
"I ended up stressing in the book, and I had to keep reminding myself to stress that-- talking about wisdom and virtue -- that these are pleasurable things, right? That life is better. That your step is lighter. That pleasure and delight itself is a virtue.
I'm kind of intense, right? I've been kind of intense in my life. And I talk in the book that my childhood made me that way too. And it's also been a gift. But... I've often...
"I ended up stressing in the book, and I had to keep reminding myself to stress that-- talking about wisdom and virtue -- that these are pleasurable things, right? That life is better. That your step is lighter. That pleasure and delight itself is a virtue.
I'm kind of intense, right? I've been kind of intense in my life. And I talk in the book that my childhood made me that way too. And it's also been a gift. But... I've often...
I talk to young people a lot -- people in their 20s -- and I say: "If there's one thing that I wish someone would have said to me that I could have taken in, it's that YES you will be beset by doubts. You will be second-guessing yourself and you'll think you're supposed to have things figured out.
But whatever is going on, know to take pleasure. Whatever there is to take pleasure in, do that. And I think I'm talking to myself still when I'm saying that.
And I think one of the great things about being older, about being in my 50s... They say when we're younger that our brains are attuned to novelty, to be animated by novelty. But as you get older, you know, you're less attuned to novelty and I'd say more naturally attuned to take pleasure in what is ordinary and habitual. And I think that's a great gift. So I am trying to really live into that."
But whatever is going on, know to take pleasure. Whatever there is to take pleasure in, do that. And I think I'm talking to myself still when I'm saying that.
And I think one of the great things about being older, about being in my 50s... They say when we're younger that our brains are attuned to novelty, to be animated by novelty. But as you get older, you know, you're less attuned to novelty and I'd say more naturally attuned to take pleasure in what is ordinary and habitual. And I think that's a great gift. So I am trying to really live into that."