“No matter who we lie next to at night we sleep with ourselves. We either forgive or get sick and tired of it.”
This is one of the many quotes from Matthew McConaughey’s memoir, “Greenlights,” that I had to frantically jot down in my notes while speeding along the 15 S in Arizona. Last weekend I had the pleasant combination of a ten hour drive and a father who knows me well enough to gift me “Greenlights” on Audible, making for a much more exciting drive than the barren Nevada and California desert views typically offer. I had no clue what to expect of this memoir from the actor who plays a loving father in Interstellar, a cute guy in a series of rom coms, and a criminally hopeless romantic in Mud. I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t artistically crafted storytelling, poetry, life lessons, and thrilling stories. McConaughey addresses his audience with utmost honesty, confessing with confidence what should be embarrassing dreams, personal experiences, beliefs, and his upbringing. He tells us about the inner turmoil he went through in each stage of his life and how he surpassed it, the lessons he learned from it, and the lessons he has yet to learn. As he repeats in his book, “life” is a verb– and Matthew lives that statement to its truest degree. I found myself laughing out loud, dropping my jaw, holding back tears, and vigorously nodding my head at the truth bombs dropped throughout the entire read. Perhaps the most impressive thing about this, my dad mentioned on the phone today, is that McConaughey kept a detailed journal of his life that he was able to reference for specific stories and writings throughout his memoir. I didn’t want it to end, but when it did I turned off my radio, rolled the windows down, and drove in silent reflection.
I reflected on what stage of life I am at right now and what I should do. I thought about how badly I want his life, but then snapped out of it and reminded myself that I want my own life, I write my own story. I cried for thirty minutes about the person that I am, about why I am this way, about what I need right now– not what I want. I listened to myself and I argued with myself. I lived life as a verb.
I cannot suggest this book enough. I cannot tell you enough that this is worth the five hours on Audible, that McConaughey’s life will make you realize more than you thought you could about your own. I cannot make you read this, but damn are you missing out if you don’t.
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