Hi Mq, well, personally I am always susceptible to anger, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy and gluttony.
Anger: easy to get angry. Rude drivers, inconsiderate clients, a-hole lawyers, ungrateful family members. I don't know anybody who doesn't get angry.
Greed: oh, I have no end of wants, even though I really want for naught.
Sloth: oh, how hard to get out of bed in the morning. How hard to exercise. How hard to keep an immaculate house (I don't). I don't even get the oil changed on my Subaru within the time limits. Every morning I tell myself that today I will do everything I should do, but when I get home from work, I put on my nightgown and my slippers and just vegetate with a drink and a good book, and let it all slide.
Pride: well, you know that one. I am very proud of what I do, perhaps even puffed up. Proud of my education, my accomplishments, my family. Sensitive to affronts, touchy.
Lust: this one gets easier with age. It used to be much harder to resist. Not so much anymore. Not that I have much opportunity, at age 58, when the men who are hitting on me are in their 60s, and not too hot. Maybe if a hot guy in his 50s or 60s was hitting on me? But not. Other than my husband, and since we're married, that's OK. Well, better than OK, I just mean that lust for someone other than my husband doesn't bedevil me anymore. But there was a time . . . .
Envy: other women are much younger, much prettier, better dressed. Many people have much finer jobs, better houses, better connections. I'd love to go to better parties and stand around with a drink in my hand, having better conversations. There are other lawyers who are super-geniuses, to whom other lawyers turn for advice. I do have some who look up to me and turn to me (pride) but I envy the ones who are more admired.
Gluttony: after anger, my real downfall. I am not just a gourmet, but a gourmand, with very discriminating tastes, fine food, fine wine, fine liquors. Oysters, lobster, caviar, foie gras, crawfish, fine cheeses. Single malt scotch. Old vine Zinfandel. Nothing but the best. And a lot of it.
Am I in thrall to my excesses? Perhaps. I certainly do love them.
When I was young I knew a woman who was temperate, who was not just a vegetarian but macrobiotic, who did not drive a car but rode a bicycle. At the time, I was very lusty, had a lot of boyfriends, drank a lot, smoked a lot of pot, partied hearty. I envied her. Still do. Wished then that I could be like her. Still do.
I have a completely clean criminal record. Never been arrested, even. I haven't smoked pot since I was admitted to law school, 30 years ago, although I would if it were legal (well, OK, a few puffs a couple of times, I shared maybe three joints in the last 30 years). My FICO score approaches 800. I have never cheated on my husband, in more than 30 years, although I have sinned in my mind.
If none of the above applies to you, well, that mystifies me. But I take your word for it. |
