“We have all the time in the world,” James Bond says to the love of his life as he navigates his DB5 Aston Martin into Matera, Italy’s oldest city. Someone has lived in Matera for 9000 years. Makes our hometown look like a toddler. My first published writing gig came as a movie critic for The Greenville News. Man, that was cool getting paid to go watch movies…
It was with a critic’s eye that I viewed the latest installment of the 007 franchise. As the Suddeth family was watching this movie for the first time, it occurred to me that I could combine the movie critic/junkie in me and put a holistic spin on things. If the archaic, yet electrifying, James Bond can find a new recipe for life, then I could too. We all can. I love finding new recipes that work for my life. (Got a killer salmon patty recipe recently from a Tennessee friend of ours…)
I watched No Time to Die a third time with this piece in mind and it brought many other things to the forefront that needed to be brought in. For those of you not familiar with James Bond history, the previous Bond movie, Spectre (2016), was “thick,” and that’s being kind. The only thing they didn’t have was Halle Berry reprising her Die Another Day role. I know small miracles exist since they didn’t revive Jinx. (After watching that 2002 edition of 007, I find it a head-scratcher she ever won an Oscar. Denise Richards wasn’t a whole lot better in this last Pierce Brosnan incarnation of James Bond.) Simply put, if there were too many details for this Bond disciple then, what about the casual movie-goer? That said, I would have chosen to go a different direction than doubling down on more James Bond history in this most recent film. Am I glad they didn’t listen to this fan-boy? ABSOLUTELY!
History is important to us. It’s an important part of the tapestry. How did we get to where we are now? If a beast like Bond can do some soul searching, then so can the rest of us. That said, what is the price of never ceasing looking over one’s shoulder to look at where one is? Only the individual can find the balance of introspection versus being in the now. It takes courage to undertake such a worthy endeavor and insight to care about he who may fail. What else have you got to do with all the time in the world? Is there a price we can put on peace of mind? Are diamonds really forever? You don’t need Goldfinger money, just be willing to put the time in like anything else.
“The first step in courage is recognizing the worst-case scenario as more time spent in circumstances you are too afraid to disturb.” I love me some Matt Khan, but I really had to put some thought into this quote. The overriding subject that caused me to look at combining Wholly Holistics and a fictional spy with a license to kill is love. Bond now has the courage to love and even talk about it.
“Be encouraged. Sometimes life moves so slow that you don’t realize that you’re winning at it.” (@LalahDelia). Much like the underwater battle scene in Roger Moore’s Octopussy, patience and daily diligence is required for the payoff. My favorite Bond actor is Roger Moore, but man, has the franchise come a long way since then.
Honestly, we do have all the time in the world until we don’t. By continuing on my timing theme from the previous column, The Battle of Shiloh, I’m asking the question: What is the price of not letting go of the old? It’s hard to do, no doubt, but can we agree to take the first step together, acceptance. This has been an underlying theme of my last several articles, as well. Notice how pressure is released when we finally accept what is. Notice I didn’t say we had to like it or that it would magically transmute into a fairy tale. By the very act of acceptance, we discover there is a definite pressure valve there. Release it to your heart’s content and ask for Divine Timing along the way so you don’t worry about The Spy Who Loved Me.
As we open No Time to Die, Bond is a very different man. Damaged, as always, no doubt, but different. For starters, he’s retired from a life of shadow work. Fear not, he hasn’t given in to the paunchy softness that affects us mere mortals in later years. He still has many jaded edges. Bond’s no different than the rest of us. Prone to dwell on lost relationships and misspent youth. Hell, I’d like to just have a day when I don’t have pretend arguments in my head and I’m not even one of those annoying people that like arguing. The demons still affecting Bond in retirement are as complicated as the geopolitical world he used to navigate/demolish, but it’s still all so base.
“It is only heavy because you are deciding over and over again to carry it. Embrace change, loosen up your sense of identity, let yourself walk a new path.” (Yung Pueblo) To this quote, I would add: At least endeavor to embrace the one that fears change. She needs tenderness more than you realize. I know some that have spent their lifetime dying. The fact that this makes me cringe, tells me that truth could be within me. A clue to take care as I march onward.
Some questions to ask to get things moving: Do you only know yourself in comparison to others? We can all understand the concept of running our own race. Today’s times are asking us to move beyond concepts. Do you transmute change in your own way (it’s nobody’s business how, just answer honestly) or do you only point out where change is needed like the tattle-tale nobody likes? Can we redefine rejection as redirection? It is important to be clear about the definitions of how you operate daily. Can you just give a big ole NAMASTE to all you’ve endured and processed in your time here? Do you perceive anxiety as a sultry mistress with the thrilling looks of a Bond girl? If so, grant love and patience to he who is enamored, as he accepts this truth.
Finally, is art a reflection of where society is at or headed? I sure hope that’s the case where this movie is concerned. I won’t give it away, but there is now diversity among the double O’s given a license to kill. Peace takes all of us.
“James, it’s a good life, isn’t it,” a friend asks. To which our hero responds, “The best.” I believe that sentiment and I will endeavor to embody M’s quote. “I won’t waste my days trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.”
