I had the opportunity to go see Lew Hunter (of UCLA’s famed screenwriting program, as well as instructor and author of “Screenwriting 434”) speak on the 18th! He was terrific, although the class was very, very elementary. The thing that makes him great is that he is such an every-man, and his language and tales from the trenches make it seem as though you really can accomplish your dreams of being a successful screenwriter.

Contrast that to say, Harlan Ellison, who unless you have 60,000 word vocabulary and speak in nothing but 4-10 syllable words you are an idiot (and he will let you know it on the spot). Sorry, Harlan. You are still one of my idols, but man, do you have sharp teeth.

At any rate, Lew quoted Nelson Mandela’s inaugural speech, which contained a passage that resonated with me tremendously. I later found out that the passage has been mis-attributed to President Mandela, and is actually the work of Marianne Williamson from her book, “A Return to Love”.

The quote was this: “‘Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.’ We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
(A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of “A Course in Miracles”, Harper Collins, 1992. From Chapter 7, Section 3])

Several years ago, I said something that seems to encapsulate the essence of this very passage, and now, FWIW, I give it to you:

Dare to dream, but have the courage to succeed.

Go forth all and fulfill your dreams and destinies to the hilt for the world needs greatness at ANY cost.