He was only fifteen when his mother brought him to me with Hodgkin's
disease and three months to live. His mother was understandably
hysterical and difficult to deal with, but the boy was bright and clever
and wanted to live. He was willing to do anything I told him to, including
changing the way he thought and spoke. His separated parents were always
arguing, and he really did not have a settled home life.
He wanted desperately to be an actor. The pursuit of fame and fortune far
outweighed his ability to experience joy. He thought he could be
acceptable and worthwhile only if he had fame. I taught him to love and
accept himself, and he got well. He is now grown up and appears on
Broadway with regularity. As he learned to experience the joy of being
himself, the parts in plays opened up for him.
Louise Hay
|