16 Comments
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Penny M's avatar

Damn, you're good at this whole words thing.

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Wim's avatar

This is great - especially the last paragraph.

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Ben Dreyfuss's avatar

You’ve all been very kind to me in the replies here and I just wanted to say thank you! I appreciate it. I sometimes deal with like being scared that sharing the sad stuff will be bad even though my readers have always actually been really nice, so it’s sort of stupid that I was nervous about it. But it really means a lot to me that you’re all so kind.

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Ben Dreyfuss's avatar

I think I’m really lucky to have readers like you. And I just wanted you to know that I appreciate it.

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Gordon Strause's avatar

Moving and insightful piece.

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Nutmeg2020's avatar

Excellent and thought provoking

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Lauren Trainor's avatar

wow. I remember where and why we met. I totally get what you’re saying and it makes a whole lot of sense. You are not alone and thank you for sharing this. 🤗

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Ben Dreyfuss's avatar

Lauren! I remember meeting you as well. I hope you’re doing well and please give my love to your husband!

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Ian M.'s avatar

Beautiful.

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Tova Laiter's avatar

excellent writing! 🙏

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Sara Z's avatar

Ben, thank you for this lovely, thoughtful piece.

I have repeatedly found that the biggest, most unmooring moments of my life (new parenthood, illness of a parent, etc.) are also utterly pedestrian…

There’s nothing new about our biggest struggles.

I also find this liberating, and humbling.

Petty bullshit had gotten me down today, but your piece prodded me to show some grace. Thank you.

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Yeshaya's avatar

Thank you for sharing this. Rooting for you

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John Podhoretz's avatar

Ben, this is a remarkable piece.

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Ben Dreyfuss's avatar

Thanks John!

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Ken Keefer's avatar

Ben, as always the depth of life you reveal is refreshing.

Dam your a great writer

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What the HecK's avatar

When I was “‪in the hospital” they a nurse sit and pluck the staples out of our magazines before we were allowed to have them (lest we use the staples to hurt ourselves) leaving us with barely held together piles of pages. I would have thrown punches if the loose pages of my Vanity Fair had been jizzed in.

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