In a short book, The Flinch, Julien Smith wrote about his own series of life experiments, challenging readers to give some a try. One of my favorite passages involves a deliberate act of household destruction: Go to the kitchen and grab a mug you don’t like. Mug in hand, go to a place in your house with a hard floor. Hold the mug in front of you, in your outstretched hand. Say good-bye to it. Now, drop the cup. Whatever rationalization you’re using right now is a weak spot for you. Flag it. You’ll see it again and again. Drop the damn cup. Did you do it? If so, you’ll notice one thing:
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