Food for thought

Two quotes that have got me thinking this morning.

From the Economist: Every time someone tells you to 'be realistic' they are asking you to compromise your ideals.

From Light on Life by BKS Iyengar: It is a modern illusion that positive emotions, sympathy, pity, kindness, and a general but diffused goodwill are the equivalent of virtues.

I'm not sure I completely agree with Iyengar about what virtues are, but the quote is a reminder to me that virtue is a verb, much like love. Thinking about love but not actually loving others isn't enough. Thinking nice thoughts for others is not the same as actually being helpful. Pity is not the same of compassion. Pity asks nothing of me, compassion asks that I involve my heart in another's life. I think I too often fall into the modern illusion.

Dear Me

Inspired by chiv, who was in turn inspired by a book of letters to people's 16 year old selves, here's what I'd write to 16 year old me:

Dear Me,

Dump Mike's sorry ass, you don't need to put up with his wishy-washiness. Start meditation, yoga and anti-anxiety meds ASAP. Keep singing. Try out for drill team next year. It's completely ok to have sex before you're married - go on and enjoy it. I think you rule for not drinking in high school. WWU will be better than you think it will be, but go ahead and apply for Bowdoin and Berklee. And while you're living in Australia, cut your Aunt some slack.

Love,
Me

That's more or less what I'd tell myself. Although, a lot of that applies to my 17 year old self too.