David Lynch, director of “The Elephant Man,” is an expert on the value and importance habits. He also knows how to make them a part of a daily routine that will help you live a happier life. The mind behind such important American films and TV shows as “The Elephant Man,” “Blue Velvet,” and “Twin Peaks,” among many others, has spoken extensively on his dedicating himself to habitual ways makes room for his art — that is, his filmmaking and other creative pursuits like shooting video blogs of him smoking, while giving a weather report to fans.
Once again, too, we find ourselves in the month of January, which–as I mentioned in my “Higher Culture” VIP review of “The Elephant Man” (linked above)–is when the cinematic maestro celebrates his birthday; he’ll turn 76 on the 20th. When he directed that film — his second feature, after “Eraserhead” — he was a slight bit younger, as you can see in the photo:
Ten days to David Lynch’s Birthday
The Elephant Man (80).
Nothing will ever die. “Nothing will die. The stream flows, there is wind, and the clouds move. “Nothing will ever die.” pic.twitter.com/D5HWMSCjAq
— Dr. Hawk (@choppingwoodpod) January 10, 2021
He seems to be able to control the situation, from what I can see. something, To continue to be active in the entertainment industry and influence it, as Betty White did until her passing at the age of 99.
In a 2000 interview on PBS’ “Charlie Rose Show,” Lynch described making a daily sojourn to the same Los Angeles Bob’s Big Boy — for seven years straight, at exactly 2:30 in the afternoon, a story which he had previously recounted to then-“Tonight Show” host Jay Leno in 1992.
He was curious as to why he did this every day. He told Rose it was because he sought a chocolate milkshake containing the thick consistency he required of “a great shake.” He explained that it all had to do with what happens at the restaurant’s lunchtime shift change:
Because they put liquid in these machines and allow it to cool, I was there at 2:20. To get thick.
During lunch, there’s a turnover — so, they’re always kind of thin. However, once the lunch is over, and before it gets too tired in the machine’s heat, they can congeal to become thicker.
And you’ve got a chance for getting a great shake.
Rose later said that the director ate the same dinner for breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day.
Lunch: Tuna fish, tomatoes, olive oil, feta cheese and olive oils.
When Rose laughed in delight, then told his subject the concept tickled him, Lynch confirmed it cheerfully: “Every day. It’s very good.”
He went on with the evening meals:
A little bit of soy sauce, chicken, small pieces of broccoli and chicken.
But this time, when the interviewer asked him if this took place every day, Lynch said he could make exceptions, like when he’s traveling.
Rose pointedly asked if Lynch could be termed a “creature of habit.” And I think his answer is the key to learning from his life philosophy the most.
Yes. Habit in a daily routine and then, when there’s some sort of order there, then you’re free to mentally go off anyplace.
You’ve got a sort of safe foundation and a place to spring off from.
As Lynch explained to Leno, he “like[s] habitual behavior because it’s a known factor, then your mind is free to think about other things.”
The next habitual behavior I am referring to is quite controversial. Keep reading.
The artist was also an ex-smoker — who picked the habit back up after a 20-plus year absence.
Why is he resuming the conversation? It’s better to let Lynch explain it himself, in the context of his daily Regular:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNTCvHkU3go
To be clear, I’m not suggesting that you take up (or resume) smoking, if you’re on a creative path. But it’s no accident that one of Lynch’s fellow indie directors, the great Jim Jarmusch, released a film called “Coffee And Cigarettes” (2003).
Back to my point about not eating the exact same meal for lunch and dinner. This reminds me of Steve Jobs who said that he only wore one outfit no matter the occasion because it saved him time and energy which he could have spent doing more creative and productive things. It turns out that there are many more successful people than I thought. While Mark Zuckerberg will be well-known to many, Karl Lagerfeld is also a successful entrepreneur.
Here’s one last, important point, a quote about then-president Donald Trump that David Lynch made during a 2018 interview with The Guardian newspaper in the U.K.:
His disruptive nature has made him one of the most important presidents. This guy is unstoppable. Our so-called leaders can’t take the country forward, can’t get anything done. They are like children. Trump has demonstrated all of these things.
Trump, like he does sometimes when he is overexcited at a surprising bit of praise, cut the quote up to his liking, and then mentioned it during an interview with Breitbart. (You can guess which part). Lynch who seems to have a mostly neutral view of politics (much like Billy Crystal in a political debate), gave what I believe was a thoughtful reply. And why wouldn’t he? He just doesn’t have the time for something so mundane — like any great artist.
To circle back to the inspiration for the headline, here’s Chicago’s classic track from the ’80s (1984)
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