August 3, 2012
I just listened to this week’s episode of This American Life, show #470: “Show Me The Way”. Act 1 was a wonderful long story about an unhappy teenager who ran away to meet his favorite author, Piers Anthony. Near the end of the story was a quote from the author’s notes in one of his novels:
“One thing you who had secure or happy childhoods should understand about those of us who did not. We who control our feelings, who avoid conflicts at all costs, or seem to seek them. Who are hypersensitive, self-critical, compulsive, workaholic, and above all survivors. We are not that way from perversity, and we cannot just relax and let it go. We’ve learned to cope in ways you never had to.†— Piers Anthony
Beautiful.
You can listen to the episode online here:
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/470/show-me-the-way