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Yes. Wonderful. I too worry that we’re developing an idea that as humans we should not suffer. No other age could possibly make such a suggestion. Suffering was always visible and often rampant. Whereas suffering is, in reality, our singing school. We’re denying ourselves the transformations and insights wrought by everyday suffering. Humility, for starters.

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I just went to a talk by the philosopher David McPherson, about a book he just wrote called The Virtues of Limits. On the "limiting virtues," among which humility is the queen, he said. And also: moderation, reverence, neighborliness, and loyalty. So much to think about.

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So I’m wondering why we’re hearing these old sawhorse standard qualities as a discovery by a philosopher. Might parents benefit from this? Are we all teaching our children to SUCCEED without helping them define success clearly? Our priest likes to say “heaven is as close as your closest neighbor in need.” Gratitude and service are two of the surest roads to happiness but we don’t hear this much. Queen Self seems to be running the show these days.

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BUT let me quickly add that many peoples SELVES have been traditionally unacceptable so if this period changes that, it will have been worth it.

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Right, I think this is the complexity. 1960s-70s brought us a critical rejection conformity, in so many ways very welcome. AND we’ve had a good half century of self-expression-above-all, so the classical virtues (esp the limiting ones?) are in atrophy. They’re not at all new, but all difficult challenges need re-oxygenating in various historical periods, I guess.

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Thank you so much for writing this and sharing your discoveries and interests. I enjoy it immensely.

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Bobby, it's so great to hear from you and see you here! I miss our exchanges on social. Thanks for the kind words too. All best.

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