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Rafael Olivas's avatar

I love your post, but I have to admit that I believe myself rather "balm bare." I'm not nearly as empathetic a being as I wish I was. I hold my genes responsible! But that said, even boorish me can appreciate compassion, especially self-compassion. This quote is from one of the best good-guy-works-through-justifiable-revenge stories and I suppose it counts as balm, at least for me:

“Life is a storm, my young friend. You will bask in the sunlight one moment, be shattered on the rocks the next. What makes you a man is what you do when that storm comes. You must look into that storm and shout as you did in Rome. Do your worst, for I will do mine! Then the fates will know you as we know you...” ― Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo

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Adam J. Blust's avatar

Thanks Rosana. I'm still trying to figure out how I am going to navigate the next few years without going insane. Right at this moment, I have no earthly idea.

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