And yet 'Hitch' was able to complete over fifty films - some of which routinely appear in critics' lists of the best films ever made. This offers me some reassurance that I might still hope to accomplish some worthy things myself going forward. I have already accomplished some significant things, like owning a photography business, becoming an Airline Transport Pilot rated flight instructor, and working as a self-tought network engineer.
But increasingly in recent years, I've been adopting an attitude like Hitchcock's - avoiding hassles and complication whenever possible. Chaos and uncertainty are unwelcome, and clarity and calm are the standard for an acceptable day. Since dealing with others for any purpose often seems to invite disorder and unwanted and unnecessary complexity to otherwise simple situations, this has resulted in increasing avoidance of social situations in general, some difficulties with relationships, and doubts about re-engaging with conventional work.
I wonder if Hitchcock operated with this mindset from the beginning of his long career, or if this influenced him only later, after having already delivered his huge body of work. I may try to find a date for that quote.
I'm currently reading a book by Harry Browne, called How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World: A Handbook for Personal Liberty. While I'm only about a third of the way through, it seems to offer a lot of insight and encouragement for how to function in a world full of demands and expectations that are not necessarily aligned with what we need or want. I'll follow up later with a review, after completing it...
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