The question
What lesson has mattered most in your life?Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
Verbatim recurring item in The Guardian Q&A; two fully readable publisher-hosted respondent pages establish institutional recurrence.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
Showing up is at least 90% of it.
The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 April 2026 source ↗
We are too often advised to live life to the fullest. That’s too much pressure. The key is to find joy and poignancy in the quiet and mundane. Life is lived between the so-called big moments.
To not be afraid, to stand there and be strong and loving and honest.
Worry about the things you can control and don’t worry about the things you can’t.
Be generous and kind. Honestly, those two things did everything for me.
Quietly somewhat funny.
Getting even older.
Martin Sheen, simply the kindest and most fun-loving person and serious activist I’ve ever known. If Jesus was alive today he’d point to Martin Sheen and say, “That’s what I was talking about.”
Both parents, I’ll write the book someday.
Inability to listen.
Wondering why I can’t sleep.
Jack Davenport, Lee Child, Edward Enninful, Matthew Modine, Jo Nesbø, Bobbi Brown
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