Enough sacrifice to allow yourself joy

tag(s): #failures #link-post #random-thoughts I was reading Reasonably Rocky on Nico's blog (highly recommend). This line hit close to home: I can't emotionally afford this kind of comfort. My wife says I can only allow myself to enjoy things if there's a degree of suffering or sacrifice attached to them. Once I heard Conan O'Brien share on his podcast a similar feeling, and he linked it to being raised catholic. The thought stuck with me for a few days. So eventually I texted my sister to relay the theory. The ensuing conversation was cathartic, filled with memories of our upbringing. And more-recent-than-we-would-like examples of that attitude in both of us. Neither of us is religious (I think. I know I am not). But the philosophical influence of catholicism in our way of life is undeniable. There are good things about this. Probably. And this one idea, which is truly terrible. Share your thoughts (via email) Back to top Back to homepage