Posted by Lyn on April 05, 2006 at 03:50:15 from 207.200.116.66 user LynMellone.
In Reply to: In praise of posted by Andrew Craig-Bennett on April 04, 2006 at 09:58:35:
I re-read SW just a couple months ago, and was suprised to find myself quite emotionally involved with the shipwreck and John's evaluation of its causes and consequences.
Of course, a "shipwreck" has long been a useful analogy for a disastrous life event, it's just that this fictional one happened to coincide tidily with my personal realization of one of mine. As I read the conversation while CF is rowing alongside John as they take the damaged Swallow to Rio, it occured to me that - intentionally or not - AR provides some incredible life truths for those who need to hear them "now "or for those who need to remember them later:
1) It does no good to cling to "I ought to have's"
2) Remember that things might have been a lot worse (be specific)
3) Acknowledge that "you've been just as much a duffer lots of times before when nothing's happened"
4) DO NOT HATE YOURSELF
5) Be thankful for CF and for any opportunity for redemption
6) Be willing to work hard for restoration