This is the tower where Montaigne wrote his famous essays. There’s nothing truly special about the building; it is similar to dozens of other old piles in the Bordeaux region. What made this place special: one person who lived here, and what he did. It’s hard to remember that places or things aren’t what make…
“To understand lives takes a lifetime.” George Valiant, Triumphs of Experience
“What people say doesn’t mean much. It’s what they do that predicts the future.” George Valiant, Triumphs of Experience
“When it comes to healthy aging, everything really is connected to everything else. A happy old age requires both physical health and mental health. For mental health, love is a necessity. So is being alive. So is being able to think straight. We need physical and cognitive competence to build the social surrounds that give…
“With age, you acquire more understanding. The things you felt so passionate about when you are young, you learn to let go of. You realize that all those things you thought you were going to be, you ain’t. As I have often said, at this stage in life it’s not what you’ve accomplished in a…
“People grapple with growing up in their own ways, but we all do have to grapple.” George Valiant, Triumphs of Experience
“The most important influence by far on a flourishing life is love.” George Valiant, Triumphs of Experience
March: Decisions
A month! When I was in Cleveland, everyone used to say that March came in like a lion and out like a lamb: the beginning of the month always saw a massive, stay-at-home storm, and, by April 1, daffodils were shyly opening, the grass was reasserting itself, and the sun was struggling to get past…
