Denzel Washington, Halle Berry and other men and women who’ve appeared on the pages of Essence offer testimonies on love and healthy living in Wisdom of the Ages: Extraordinary People 19 to 90 (Essence Books/Time Inc. Home Entertainment, $24.95), edited by Patricia Mignon Hinds with an introduction by Essence editorial director Susan L. Taylor. Here are a few insightful words from five of our top talents: Singer Jill Scott on inspiration:
My grandmother came from a different era, a different time, telling her story without saying any words. She would hum while she cooked and cleaned. But more important, she would hum and sing praises. To have someone with that kind of “herstory” express herself without words is a kind of wealth that you can’t put any price on. Sometimes when I sing, I get close to that place. Then I can go deep into the history of who we are as a people. Actors Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson Jackson on faith and family:
Sam: When I was that crazy addict, it would have been easy for LaTanya to have gotten out of the relationship. When I came back from rehab, it was all about me. I was trying to have fun. I would get with somebody, and when the sex was over, it was like, “Now what?” I’m grateful that my life has been saved, and that my family has survived.
LaTanya: We have a belief in something greater than ourselves—we have faith in God. So many times we’ve had to roll over stuff into the spiritual realm. I stayed with him because I made a promise to God that I would be there. Poet Maya Angelou on aging gracefully:
When you reach your seventies or eighties, you won’t have to be jealous of young people because you can say, “When I was there, I did that thing fully, and now I’m here, doing this thing fully.” Live a fulfilling life. Give yourself time to be with yourself. Don’t always try to work out problems when you’re alone. Relax. Go for walks. Listen to kids laugh. Breathe deeply and think more profoundly. Singer and actress Beyoncé Knowles on elder wisdom:
I relate to older Black women. There are people whose aura is so strong you can see the wisdom. I love being around women like that. I know there are a lot of things I haven’t been through, so I listen and try to soak up as much as I can. There’s always something to learn. What they know and have experienced can save us a lot of heartache. To purchase Wisdom of the Ages: Extraordinary People 19 to 90s, go to BN.com |
