Embrace the Suck

As the great Tim Riggins once said "Embrace the Suck." The most amazing things in life are accomplished by those who do things that are unpleasant if not downright painful. I just watched the Houston Marathon outside my office. It is always amazing and inspiring to see people to pushing through pain to accomplish a goal. The looks of pain on their faces, are a reminder to me what can be accomplished if we stay determined. One young lady was limping along visible pain while a friend ran next to her. The friend was in street clothes soaked with sweat. Clearly he had not signed up for the race, but at some point saw his friend needed someone to run with her. It was pretty awesome. Sometimes I need to watch things like the Marathon to raise my hopes in humanity when I find out that Two and a Half Men is the highest rated comedy on television.

Bobos in Paradise

I just finished Bobos in Paradise by David Brooks. Brooks attempts to explain our current culture as a combination of bourgeoisie and bohemian culture the result of which is our educational elite. It was a fun read, and generally it caused me to feel two ways. First, I felt guilty for certain Bobo activities and mannerisms I have: humblebragging, shopping at whole foods, seeking authenticity for its own sake, etc. Secondly, I was saddened by some of the things we had lost as Bobos. The book talks about how many of our cultural advances have cost us our sense of community and purpose. Our move towards pluralism has great benefits but it has to some degree turned us into milk toast.