The Sidebar: Sir Tony, Crispy Potatoes, and the Color of Serotonin
— plus how to stay warm, well-lit (but not lit) and fit
Why
Why all the embarrassment
about being happy?
Sometimes I’m as happy
as a sleeping dog
and for the same reasons
and for others.
— Wendell Berry
To Sir Tony With Love
I understand if you can’t get past the mental snapshot of Sir Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter, but trust me, there’s a warm, endearing, funny, charming, 47-years-sober Tony who you want to get to know. You can simply follow him on Instagram @anthonyhopkins, where he plays the piano, dances, sings, and dispenses wisdom with abandon. In fact, here he is on his 47th sobriety anniversary two weeks ago, offering encouragement to all who are struggling.
Or you can listen to him tell his story – I’ve carried around a recording of this in my car for years and listened to it over and over. (Yes, our Island cars are so old that we still listen to CDs.) Of course it’s on You Tube now, so do take it for a spin. Hearing Tony talk about his awkward childhood and how he came to the end of his drinking is both hilarious and inspiring.
The Color of Serotonin
I’ve written about this before, but it still blows me away: Do you know that there’s a connection between our vision and areas of the brain where pleasure thrives? In other words, beauty — and its sidekick color — can actually stimulate serotonin production. No wonder we crave color on these grey winter days. No wonder I practically freaked out with happiness working on my vision board this week.