The Important Kind
I just listened to “This is Water,” the commencement speech that David Foster Wallace delivered to Kenyon College, the class of 2005. I didn’t know what it would be, and I didn’t feel that I connected with every word, but it was pretty great. Of course it was; it was David Foster Wallace. You can listen to it here, if you are so inclined. If you would rather just read it, I found a transcript as well.
He spends a bit of time on what freedom really is, and then he says something that I’ve been turning over in my mind. It’s such a great quote, I decided I would share it here. As a belated Independence Day offering.
“The really important kind of freedom involves attention, and awareness, and discipline, and effort, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them, over and over, in myriad petty little unsexy ways, every day.”
― David Foster Wallace, This is Water
Rachel Lewis
Welcome! I’m a middle-aged former Mormon (aka the “other FOMO”), essayist, and playwright living in Salt Lake City. I work in pharmaceuticals professionally and write recreationally—though I’m open to reversing that someday. On Life and Lemons is where I share humorous snippets about writing, addiction, recovery, relationships, mental health, and whatever else life tosses in the blender. If you enjoy dark humor with a twist of lemon-tart snark—or just need proof that your own life isn’t the only one held together by twist ties and good intentions—you’re in the right place. You can follow me and get updates on the release of my new essay collection at instagram.com/pieces_of_string/. 🍋 Subscribe and let’s overthink things together.