I was left so inspired by Patrick Swayze and Lisa Niemi Swayze’s audiobook, ‘The Time of My Life.’ Just finishing it last night left me with a sense of reluctance; honestly, I didn’t want it to end. As I absorbed their captivating story, I found myself drawn to the profound parallels between Swayze’s life and his iconic character Bodhi from ‘Point Break’. Like Bodhi, Swayze seemed to embrace life’s challenges head-on, riding its waves until the very end. Despite facing relentless demons and enduring one of the most aggressive forms of cancer, his resilience was truly remarkable. Throughout his journey, he grappled with lows familiar to many of us as artists, performers, and creators—injuries, moments of burnout, and the perpetual question of ‘what’s next?’
It must have been a profound experience for them to share their lives together. Lisa Niemi, his wife, likely faced unique challenges as an actor, performer, and artist herself. Perhaps at times, she felt overshadowed, as often occurs with spouses of household name actors and actresses. Stepping out from that shadow can indeed be daunting, irrespective of one’s talent. However, Niemi gracefully navigated these challenges. She stood as an equal partner, collaborating with her spouse on numerous creative ventures spanning their careers and joint artistic projects. Throughout the book, we are reminded of Lisa Niemi’s remarkable talent, as her husband speaks of her with deep admiration. Swayze also candidly shares the unfortunate reality that Niemi faced unwarranted criticism solely because of her role as his wife. Additionally, he discusses his own battles with alcoholism and the strain it placed on their marriage. Yet, amidst these struggles, their enduring love, affection, and determination shone through, ultimately reuniting them. Swayze consistently referred to Niemi as his rock, and it’s clear that she remained an unwavering source of support until the very end.
I can’t help but think that there’s some spookiness that went into action when Swayze was cast as Bodhi. Is it a coincidence that his wife Niemi had called him Buddy for most of their lives? Again, Swayze rode that wave, like Bodhi, until the end. It’s one thing to make it in Hollywood, but it’s another thing to make it in life. Swayze made it, and like Bodhi, beyond New Zealand.
After 14 years, Swayze’s departure still leaves a significant void. His familiar and comforting face continues to grace the silver screen, serving as a reminder of his enduring legacy. I find solace in the fact that his book has reignited my curiosity, prompting me to explore more of his films that I have yet to see. It’s a testament to how individuals can touch our lives in ways that linger eternally, shaping our thoughts and perceptions long after they’re gone. And so, as Swayze embarks on the next great adventure, his spirit lives on through the myriad of experiences he shared with us, hinting at the possibility of a continuation beyond this life—a journey into the great unknown, into another realm of existence.
In the meantime, we can heed his inspiring advice that when one dream fails, always look to another. We may sometimes feel disillusioned, demotivated, and just plain burnt out, but we can give ourselves time to heal and pick ourselves back up again. There’s always something to live for if we just look around and participate in what life has to offer us.
I was also reflecting on the stories Swayze shared about the movies he made and the characters he portrayed. It made me think about how being an actor is probably like taking a break from being yourself for a while, so you can be someone else or at least tap into places you never knew existed within yourself; bringing those up to the surface to breathe. I can imagine it must be such a fulfilling experience that leaves you changed and perhaps feeling even more complete when the role is over. Perhaps it’s never over; it’s just stored away for another day. Perhaps the more characters one plays, the deeper one is in touch with humanity—the collective unconscious.
I can’t speak for Patrick Swayze, but what I can say is the character of Bodhi certainly seems close enough to the impression I got of who Swayze was. Perhaps he was finally able to tap into a part of himself that was connected to the ocean and that resigns to all the self-imposed rules that didn’t serve him well, and as a result, experience some form of liberation.
Having said that, it came across to me as though Swayze was way too hard on himself, like most of us can be. We may think that we’re just not enough, that we have to try to be liked, or that we’re not deserving of love and can’t see it even when it’s staring us right in the face. Swayze shares these very same struggles with us in his story. At times, it was hard for me to believe that a man so well-accomplished in Hollywood could still have these demons, but it just shows you that it doesn’t matter where you go, you take yourself with you. And if you haven’t faced all of yourself, then it will come back to haunt you.
I only hope that Bodhi was truly a chance for Swayze to embrace all parts of himself. Just like Bodhi, Swayze was drawn to Buddhism, which practices a philosophy that embraces all denominations without discrimination; it’s about being in tune with the source of all—one that is found within rather than without. We all have a bodhi within, a bodhisattva that is waiting to be born when we let go of all that holds us back.
Patrick Swayze‘s audiobook made me ponder on all these things and more. It made me feel great respect for him and his wife Lisa Niemi that he called his rock. I can’t tell you how much this book meant to me. And I hope somewhere out in the beyond, Patrick Swayze knows how much it means to me and I’m sure to many others. “The Time of My Life” is a gem, and I highly recommend it.
I keep my heart and my soul and my spirit open to miracles. 🕊️
~ Patrick Swayze
Check out the time-lapse to my digital sketch “Bodhi”.
