@ablerism Been thinking lots about choice lately — how my own kids' universe of choice shrinks and grows at the whims of those lacking moral (and other kinds of) imagination, what I've chosen, what choices I'm still willing to make and live with, and whether I'm making enough space for whimsy. Sigh.
@dorsalstream I think you will appreciate that I got an email from a young reader who said: Ok, fair enough on choosing, but what do you say to people like me — in our twenties, wondering whether to change course, stay put, think about pathways? So…more to post about!
@ablerism Mark Schwen and Dorthy Bass’s book Leading Lives That Matter is a lovely collection in general, but I’m thinking especially of their short introduction to Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” which has hung with me
@ablerism Great question, and I wish I had a more satisfying answer than choose to care — about people, the state of things, yourself.
@ablerism I threw the relevant bits up on the blog. As someone who didn’t start seriously reading until late 20s/early 30s, or even asking many serious questions until then, this book was a gold mine I really enjoyed. And I’m sure I annoyed plenty of people who might have asked around this time about what I was reading: “Well, since you asked, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT FROST’S POEM…” 🤓
@tinyroofnail This is great — thank you! I’m thinking my response to the inquirer will be a numbered list of “ways to think about this question” and point to your excerpts. I’m also thinking of my friend and former colleague Jon Adler and his research expertise in “narrative identity” in adulthood. It’s a fascinating science: how we tell “contamination” or “redemption” narratives about the same events and choices, depending on how we are knitting together their significance or meaning over time. Thanks for prompting these thoughts all around.