Walking Into #LeighSales Not An Ordinary Day
So, having returned from the Portuguese Camino (Camino Portugues), I no longer trudge the trails of Portugual and Spain. Yet, I continue the walk of life. As I walk, I look and listen - on good days, that is.
This is a post I did not want to write and yet I found myself needing to do so. I saw the ads for Leigh Sales' book. I was a bit curious. But I put the curiosity aside. As often is the case, I was listening to the Better Reading Podcast with Cheryl Akle. She interviewed Sales about this book: Any Ordinary Day. The curiosity came back around the corner like a mischievous mate inviting me to an adventure. Then, after dinner one night, my channel-flicking landed on Gardening Australia where, Costa was working in the garden of Leigh Sales!
I was avoiding the book, yet it kept coming up. I was avoiding it because my impression of Leigh Sales from 7.30 (The Weeknight Australian ABC TV Current Affairs program) did not overly endear her to me. I am not drawn to the adversarial energy of politics and that kind of debate. I am also, kind of, stand-off-ish in the presence of journalists.
It is not just because I have had loved ones covered in the media after serious motor vehicle accidents, nor just because I lost my elder brother to suicide. For those occasions there was, obviously, some reporting in the newspapers and local television news. That is tough in itself. A point, I now see, that is not lost on Leigh Sales. My reserve is more my kind of push-me-pull-you drawn in and yet repelled approach to journalism.
Many years ago I actually considered being a journalist and, in fact, did work experience with a rural newspaper. I subsequently chose not to go along that path. On a deeper level I think it is because I have seen the power of words, images and films and how persuasive they are. I am in awe of the power of a journalist to create a potent impression for good or ill. All of this was a maze of moats I had to navigate to approach Leigh's book. Yet something kept saying to me: "Have a look. There is surely more to Leigh Sales than what you get on 7.30." Indeed, there is. I discovered that a strong, incisive interviewer like Leigh can also be weak, vulnerable and fearful. This is especially so when wrestling with questions about her own and her children's lives. There is a someone wanting to explore the deeper under tow (Under Toad) and meaning of life. There she marvels at people's resilience and in their ability to be present to and stand by others. I believe I found at least two narratives in this book. One is a tapestry formed by the lives of those Leigh interviewed. The other narrative is her own story that frames the tapestry. Both narratives are compelling and enrich the reader.
I was pleased that she encountered Stephen Sinn whom Leigh saw as a person who accompanied people. In his many years of living as a Jesuit Priest, Steve would be very familiar with the Examen. It is a practice that can be simple or complex but often boiled down to three steps. Firstly, one reflects on the day they have had, savouring the good times with people, places and events. It is a time of being grateful. Secondly, there is the awareness of the more regrettable moments, the ones we are sorry for and wish to learn from. Thirdly, there is the hopeful expectation of the new day to come, where we notice and seek help for what we may need for that day. The Examen reminds me of the words that Leigh uses to close her book:
There's really only one lesson to take from all of this and that is to be grateful for the ordinary days and to savour every last moment of them. They're not so ordinary, really. Hindsight makes them quite magical.
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