An echo of a thought found elsewhere in these lines: "From mid-life onward, the great struggle for all humans is the struggle not to give way to bitterness, resentment, self-pity and all the negativity and harsh judgments that flow from that" (Alice Miller, Swiss psychiatrist). Is it because at that age we start more seriously evaluating life and its progress that we are so tempted? Are we asking ourselves if we have gotten the love, satisfaction, recognition, that we think should be our fair share? Does the tendency to self-pity and resentment build up over the years as we 'collect' injuries, slights, failures, disappointments? Are we comparing ourselves to others and wondering if we have been short-changed or passed over? The line I've quoted elsewhere goes: "The abandonment of self-pity is the beginning of wisdom." It certainly is consonant with the Gospel for us to shrug off slights and offenses and get on with our lives and work. And it certainly seems simply the healthier way to live than 'getting even' or tallying up all the hurts. Starting to do that early enough might help lessen the mid-life temptation to give way to bitterness.

— Don Talafous OSB
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The Rule of Saint Benedict : Todays Reading

Saint John's Abbey is online at http://www.sja.osb.org/