A life empty of emotion is barren; a life empty of reason is animalistic grubbing about. Integrating the passions and the intellect leads to courage, nobility, virtue, vigor, and heroic action. In my everyday life, I spend a lot of my time trying to slay dragons – materialism, modernism, relativism, and the rampant narcissism of modern life - and trying to help my students become the kind of heroic people who do the same. My life is full of hilarity and gentleness and anger at the proper things in the proper way and time(at least I’m working on it!); quick wit (others more often than mine), exploration and study, and conversation – piercing and thorough; self-examination and correction, sometimes painful but needed; pouring myself into works that are fulfilling even when frustrating and in helping my friends do the same. I am poor in material goods, but richly rewarded in everything that really matters, and grateful for it. Life is glorious, full of awe and terrible beauty. I wish you the same exuberant existence.
Magdalen
