Everyday Systems

I've bed reading parts of a book titled in the subject. The author attempts to live out 13 of Ben's Virtues. The first chapter is on temperance and the author sets out to restrict his diet to not eat between meals or eat after supper. No snacking was allowed. He reasoned that this was the only achievable long term diet that anyone could follow.

He's been proven right repeatedly!

I read about the 13 virtues over 20 years ago, but had forgotten about them.

I did a little searching and found that Franklin started with temperance because he felt it was the virtue that would develop the self-discipline needed to master the remaining 12 virtues.

Franklin admitted he was never able to live the virtues perfectly, but thought he was a better and happier man for having made the attempt.

He couldn't live the virtues perfectly, but apparently didn't feel like a failure or question whether or not he should keep working at following them. As it applies to No-S, I think that's interesting.

Thanks for the book recommendation.

I haven't seen this particular book, but I've long admired Ben Franklin's approach -- very "everyday systems." His 13 virtues and method for tracking them are a point of inspiration for the HabitCal. I look forward to the notion of virtue in general (and these charming old names for individual virtues) coming back into style again! I think it's bound to happen eventually, if only from our hunger for novelty (what's old is new again, if you wait long enough).

Just downloaded the book after reading the sample. Thanks for the heads up.