It seems to me that in the long run it is impossible to maintain a democratic society unless you can spread the benefits and burdens of being an American citizen reasonably evenly.
—Felix Rohatyn—
In our relationships, in our work and play, do we assume an equal share of the burdens, and do we get a reasonable amount of benefits in exchange? There’s no way to calculate the burdens and benefits of living. But our own inner awareness is a pretty accurate measure: if you feel ripped off and resentful, then something’s wrong; if you feel guilty, as though you were getting away with murder, something’s wrong.
Often we’re reluctant to track down the source of our guilt or our resentment; we’re afraid that what we find may force us to change the way we live and work, and change is painful. Letting go of a source of pain can be as difficult as losing a source of pleasure.I am the only one who knows just what is going on in my life, and all such choices are mine.