Isa is married, has two grown-up children, works as a freelancer for a translation agency and is involved in the cultural sector. Tim is a successful theater and film actor, freedom-loving, unattached and over ten years younger than Isa. A deep bond develops from an encounter after a performance and subsequent conversations. The intensity of their love and the kindred spirit that exists between them changes both of their lives. They have no choice, these feelings force them to cross conventional boundaries, even though the fear of loss is great. Will they find a way?
Open-heart surgery was a frightening experience that brought many challenges to our family and marriage. Many medical professionals guided the recovery. The multiple strokes were much more challenging when hearing so often, We will just have to wait and see. That statement became almost profane as each day presented new problems to deal with. Strict diet, exercise, and therapy required becoming nurse, dietician, counselor, and warden, as well as wife. The attitude of the victim and the caregiver makes all the difference. Keeping positive was a necessity, though it was often difficult. Remembering Philippians 4:13 became my daily encouragement: I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.
Whether we're buying a pair of jeans, ordering a cup of coffee, selecting a long-distance carrier, applying to college, choosing a doctor, or setting up a 401(k), everyday decisions—both big and small—have become increasingly complex due to the overwhelming abundance of choice with which we are presented. As Americans, we assume that more choice means better options and greater satisfaction. But beware of excessive choice: choice overload can make you question the decisions you make before you even make them, it can set you up for unrealistically high expectations, and it can make you blame yourself for any and all failures. In the long run, this can lead to decision-making paralysis, anxiety, and perpetual stress. And, in a culture that tells us that there is no excuse for falling short of perfection when your options are limitless, too much choice can lead to clinical depression. In The Paradox of Choice, Barry Schwartz explains at what point choice—the hallmark of individual freedom and self-determination that we so cherish—becomes detrimental to our psychological and emotional well-being. In accessible, engaging, and anecdotal prose, Schwartz shows how the dramatic explosion in choice—from the mundane to the profound challenges of balancing career, family, and individual needs—has paradoxically become a problem instead of a solution. Schwartz also shows how our obsession with choice encourages us to seek that which makes us feel worse. By synthesizing current research in the social sciences, Schwartz makes the counter intuitive case that eliminating choices can greatly reduce the stress, anxiety, and busyness of our lives. He offers eleven practical steps on how to limit choices to a manageable number, have the discipline to focus on those that are important and ignore the rest, and ultimately derive greater satisfaction from the choices you have to make.
