M01.15 An Ordinary Person Doing Extraordinary Things

Isn’t that a good description of you? Many years ago, at the Sebel Townhouse Hotel in Kings Cross, I had the honour of meeting Sir Ralph Richardson (1902~1983). Many of you won’t know who he is, but along with John Gielgud and Lawrence Oliver, he was considered one of the great actors of his time. I think he was in Australia appearing in the Kingfisher, one of his final performances. At dinner he started to talk about his own impressions of his career. And then he said something I shall never forget: “Oh I am fraud, not really an a great actor as they say. I keep thinking: one day, they are going to find out.“ I was stunned. Here I was in the presence of one the great actors of the 20th century, and he didn’t believe in himself. Or, was it just that he thought of himself as an ordinary person? I can never know, but today I wonder if this was the real truth he was expressing to me that day… A long time ago, I gave up being thrilled with the praise of others. I came to understand that the flip side of that vicarious joy was my despair. If I believed what others say about me, then I believe what others say about me. Sometimes that’s good, sometimes not. It’s a roller coaster, and staying on too long just makes you sick. What is “ordinary” is our sameness. Human beings live with equal potentiality, but not equal opportunity. Ego gets confused by that – thinking the things we do make us extraordinary. I think what Ralph was really saying is: “I am an ordinary person. I do extraordinary things, and the opportunities I had led me to that. However, I am not this “great” person every one is trying to tell me I am. And one day, they will find out. I am just ordinary.” Now that makes sense to me. A person’s life is shaped by actions, not by some inherent “specialness” that they possess, better than all others. This “special person” way of seeing others puffs up some, and pushes down others, and finally it betrays our ability to love equally. If Sir Ralph is so “great” then what are the other actors around him? I write this, because it offers another way to consider our passion, consider our drivers. It is not that you have it and others don’t – We. All. Have. It. – but the choices or actions you take to do things sometimes make you appear extraordinary to others. Your “extraordinariness” will arise out of the harmony of being who you are designed to be… … Aye – there’s the rub, For in that truth of Self, what choice may come, When you have shuffled off the pretence of You, Must give you pause… “Me? Do that? Not possible!” I think, when we find our true Self, actions are suggested that scale us beyond the measure we used to guide our lives, so the action feels too extraordinary to rationally consider. It is not you that is extraordinary, it is the things you do that deliver this verdict upon you. And the courage to do such things comes from any person willing to step into the unknown, and do a thing they have never done before… Like Ralph, you can stay ordinary: just do the extraordinary.