Musings
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The choice to be childfree
Every time someone asks me if I have children, and my answer is ‘no’, I am amazed that the default follow-up question is: “why not?” Apparently it’s OK to ask people to justify…
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Are you a philosopher?
To know the answer to that question, one must first have an idea about what philosophy is. Many people think of philosophy as difficult, abstract, theoretical, something that belongs to the sphere of…
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What is wisdom?
Wisdom is – Knowing that there is a lot you don’t know – Realizing that things are complex – Knowing the difference is between facts and opinions – Realizing that everyone experiences the…
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The world is not fair and just
We often assume that if we do something good, we will get something good in return. Or that if we stick to the rules, we will be rewarded – or at least not…
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Rollo May on choosing to live
“It is doubtful whether anyone really begins to live, until he has frankly confronted the terrifying fact that he could wipe out his existence but chooses not to. Since one is free to…
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‘Man’s search for meaning’ in 10 quotes
I just finished reading ‘Man’s search for meaning’ by Viktor Frankl. Here are my 10 favorite quotes from this highly recommended book: 1. Happiness cannot be pursued; it must ensue. A human being…
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Fromm’s The art of loving
My favorite quote from Erich Fromm’s book The Art of Loving is this one: “There is hardly any activity, any enterprise, which is started with such tremendous hopes and expectations, and yet which…
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Distinguishing feelings from thoughts
How many times do we say or think: Probably I use some of these expressions myself sometimes as well. But these are not feelings. They are thoughts. You think you are powerless and…
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Guy Winch on rejection
At some point in our lives, all of us have to deal with rejection (either romantically or professional or otherwise). Now, I am currently reading a book by psychologist Guy Winch, and in…
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On expectations
I recently attended a mini class on ‘expectations’. You know, those tricky imaginations that we all have about what future events are supposed to be like. It was good to be reminded of…