The Atlantic
Try new things. Not too much. Mostly experiences.
” is a weekly column by Arthur Brooks, tackling questions of meaning and happiness.
Many parents of young children struggle to introduce new foods into their kids’ diets. About half of American children are picky eaters by the age of two; they are, in the vernacular of nutritionists, “food neophobic.” Our pediatrician once told me that one of our sons, who was a fussy eater, would need to try a new food at least six times before the taste would no longer fill him with fear and loathing. My wife and I wanted to fight our son’s food neophobia for some practical, nutritional reasons, but more fundamentally, we wanted him to eat adventurously so he could enjoy this part of life. Openness to a wide variety of tastes and smells enhances the pleasure of eating.
This springtime of our national discontent stems from a lack of spiritual awareness, according to Benjamin Storey, co-author with his wife Jenna Silber Storey, of “Why We Are Restless: On the Modern Quest for Contentment.”
The duo, who both teach at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, are set to present their views at an American Enterprise Institute forum on May 24.
“What Jen and I really know about is old books and young souls: we spent a lot of time with college students, both at Furman and at other universities,” Mr. Storey said in a telephone interview. “I think that there’s a lot of focus on the anger of this generation. We want to draw some attention to the deep discontent,” he added.
Benjamin Storey asks French philosophers why we are restless washingtontimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from washingtontimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Good morning, it’s Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020. On this date in 1843, a (fictional) money lender watched his poorly paid clerk put on his scarf while preparing to leave for the day. “You’ll want all day tomorrow,” groused the boss.
“If quite convenient, sir,” replied the clerk.
“It’s not convenient,” the boss said, “and it’s not fair.” He added that if the clerk’s salary was to be docked accordingly, he’d think himself ill-used. In reply, the clerk noted meekly that Christmas came but once a year.
“A poor excuse for picking a man’s pocket every 25
th of December,” growled the churlish businessman. “But I suppose you must have the whole day. Be here all the earlier the next morning.”