8 Comments
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Laughing at Q's avatar

Fantastic piece. I’m going to share it with my son.

Sarah Rowell's avatar

I love this. And I needed to hear it.

Gwyneth's avatar

"Action! Action! It's the only way to get things done."

- Joanna Trollope, The Rector's Wife

Reckoning's avatar

Congratulations on your accomplishments and perseverance. I myself am quite satisfied with my multiple children and low profile but successful enough career. I can look back with regrets and maybe I could have done more with an advantage or luck here or there, but I can’t complain. Also, you can’t judge any individual from the outside and know what difficulties they have had to overcome.

I recall Samuel Johnson’s saying that public affairs vex no man. Yes the world is full of wars and injustices, but that doesn’t stop many from building a life and you should try to be one of the lucky ones. If you truly exhaust all possibilities and still fail, then it’s a noble failure.

Betsy's avatar

What a wonderful essay - thank you.

Murray's avatar

Sooo true! Well done Keith! I am routinely accused of being a Boomer and hence responsible for all that is wrong with the world. "You had it so good and you are leaving the world in a mess." Yeah right. Sort of the micro/macro thing in reverse! lol

Kay Bee's avatar

Except for your physical challenges your post mirrors my husband's experience. We will both reference it in combatting the negative messages our teenage grandsons may hear. Many thanks!