Dr Phil interviews Steve Harvey

 Over the past few months I have been listening to Dr Phil on tv. First just passing through while Tess was watching but gradually sitting down to listen and actually tune in. Tess asked me about his podcast, Phil in the Blanks, so I looked that up and started listening and voila, here I am, hooked!

The podcast goes straight to the meat of the conversation and stays there. There are a couple of adds but they are mostly pitches by Phil about products he endorses. They are quiet and non intrusive, not loud with salesmen and music. I know they have to be paid for but I hope this doesn’t change.

This particular episode, interviewing Steve Harvey, is the best interview I have ever listened too. They introduce each other as friends and then proceed to have the most interesting, insightful and downright Funny conversation I’ve ever heard. These are two very real very powerful personalities. I would assume a much different starting place in life but still so much understanding empathy and support for each other. They’ve both made it big and they talk about their first big breakthroughs, especially Steve and they make you see and realize how much energy, effort and perseverance goes into making it in show business. How they turn accidents into opportunities and make opportunities out of potential failures. I ended up liking and respecting both of these men more throughout the whole interview but more like a real conversation process.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/phil-in-the-blanks/id1446088262?i=1000428205162

This is the best interview I have ever listened too. I listened to the entire podcast and was completely captivated. I then linked to it in my blog and searched YouTube hoping I would find the complete interview. The two formats have distinctively unique attributes and there is a lot to be said for just listening. The main point I’d like to make in this comment however is how much I learned about both participants and how much even more respect and admiration I have for both of you. As you point out, you feel blessed to be paid for what you do. What you do is not easy but as you say, it’s not a real job like working on a farm or factory (not your words). But you guys are multitalented and you do work hard. Heck, hearing about Steve’s schedule and never missing a show is an incredible work ethic. You both have special talents in your ability to communicate and we are blessed by that. As Steve pointed out, Phil could be a great stand up comedian and, as we’ve seen, Steve can be a pretty great relationships counselor so.. anyway thanks for all you do and being very real in your professional personalities. In this interview/conversation I never learned so much and laughed out loud so hard as I did here.

Thanks again!

What’s the worst that can happen?

 What’s the worst that can happen?

That’s a question I sometimes ask myself in order back away from anxiety. I am having a great deal of anxiety despite my life being almost perfect in every possible way. A loving wife and family. A house and car, no debt and money in the bank. So what’s the worst that can happen? Death? Not afraid of it, almost welcome it to escape this constant pain. So this injury and this pain and now wondering if this is temporary or the new me as I said to a neighbor friend today. This pain is hurting me physically and emotionally. But will it go away? Probably.

A stock market crash and loss of all my money? Losses yes but probably not a collapse. 

Racism in America? Yes, but last night in the show Yellowstone the Native American told the man who had married his native daughter go home to your family you are not one of us. He also referred to the nature of man. The destructive nature of man. Until you can change the nature of man you must return to your own family.

Fascism in America? Yes, Trumpism is a form of minority rule but not quite Nazism. There is a lot of hatred towards the Jews and there has been throughout time. It seems to be based in envy and jealousy. It bothers me a lot but they seem to do okay.

The 2nd Second Amendment - Our Constitution and the Bill of Rights are profound documents representing the codification of ideals that protect average citizens from power brokers and dictators. 250 years of our democracy have been based upon and depend upon the thoughtful application of the words and the principles incorporated in these documents. Today these documents have been pushed aside and replaced by the meme ‘the second amendment’. That statement is repeated as a mantra by right wing advocates as if it is an oath of loyalty that prohibits and level of scrutiny. That amendment, written in 1791, articulates the right to bear arms. Arms that were, at that time in history, single shot muscats Not AR15 Machine guns. But now the citizens that is amendment was written to protect are being held hostage by right wing bullies. Ironically the very type of people that the original 2nd amendment was written to protect. And you know what prevents us from having any reasonable discussion the denigration and pejorative application of the word Liberal.  

Lack of sleep. Insomnia and now insomnia with pain. It is driving me crazy but in reality I’m not crazy and will never be crazy. I do need pain medication. I’m trying to space it out and hoping that the Orthopaedics can give me more. I’m hoping that is acupuncture and easy massage can help. I just wish I could turn my mind Off. But I can’t or I haven’t found out how to do it. Of everything I wish I could just go to sleep. Stop the constant thinking. That is the magic I am looking for. The thing that many people take for granted. The thing that many people do every night. The thing that Tess now kind of brags about. Just close my eyes and go to sleep. My leg pulls back in pain. I continue this sentence. I’m going to stop and try again to close my eyes but… insomnia, pain, constant thinking… it will probably win again until I surrender to a comforting cup of coffee.

And lastly, tonight, the war in Ukraine. This, the horror of the inhumanity of Putin and the horror of being attacked as the people in Ukraine are being attacked. They are living the real torture. This is a torture only in my mind. For this I pray. Please God, that there is Goodness in our much flawed human nature. Please God stop this war.

God,

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change

Courage to change the things I can and

Wisdom to know the difference