Thank you so much, Ilo, for yet again expressing what was in my thoughts and feelings much better than I’ve been able to here thus far. I will confess that reading Frank Russell’s classic story And Then There Were None with the great line I was recently reminded of: Freedom—I won’t! led me to pushing back when I felt pushed, rather than focusing on more substantive matters.

I take this to mean that your are guided by a different star. Tell me, can you see this star clearly? Is it in the same place in the heavens that it was yesterday?

If Ilo’s comments don’t help you better understand my perspective, perhaps this will. I do not find this metaphor of much value, because my life has never been guided by a single star. A better one is that it is guided by a constellation ... and some stars shine more brightly at times, while under differing circumstances, others will come to the fore. One is monetary profit, another is more broadly-based economically-centered profit; but not surprisingly, others focus on eudaimonia and related profits. As Ilo said, I do not see a necessary conflict between profit and being present in living. Do you?

In closing, along the lines of Ilo’s closing words, I am on record as feeling deeply conflicted about whether it would be more pleasurable to experience the majestic glide of a hawk, or the undulating flight of a goldfinch.

And now, back to seeking both kinds of profit in the remainder of this beautiful day.