The Virtue Game: Play Along at Home

Now it’s your turn!

Here’s how it is going to work: I am going to list sixty-some-odd virtues. You are going to read through the list and see which words get a reaction out of you. Which words do you confidently gloss past? Which words cause you to cringe a little bit? If you want to get really serious about it, for each virtue rate yourself on a scale from 1-10, 10 being that you are Mother Theresa-level virtuous, 1 being you are a depraved ingrate. (Please know I am kidding, please know I am kidding, please know I am kidding.)

As you peruse this list, you might find that some of these virtues mean exactly the same thing to you. If that happens, then skip the doubles. My philosopher husband and I defined them each as something different, but that does not make our definitions correct. Whatever the words mean to you is entirely valid. If some of them are too spiritual or religious-y for you, then skip them, too.

Remember, this list was originally intended as a blueprint for how we wanted to raise our children, not as an indictment of us as people. Low scores do not make us bad people, they make us human. Same is true for you. Low scores indicate that you are self-aware. (Self-awareness is not on my list, but Lucidity is. Rate yourself accordingly, my friend!)

Ready? Let’s do this, you depraved ingrate. (Please know I am kidding, please know I am kidding.)

The Virtue Game:

Round-up

I know it’s not fun to examine our faults. Believe me, I know. But I think that there is such a great benefit to doing it–it is so liberating to be authentic and honest with ourselves about it, that the discomfort is totally worth it.

Hopefully a few of the bottom feeders on your little quiz will become swiftly apparent. As you look at that list, does it evoke any specific memories for you? Can you imagine what it would look like for that virtue to be a 6 rather than a 2? What would have to change in your life for that to happen?

Episode 54: Shopping Hiatus – Sing With Your Feet

Talking points: Breaking the cycle of shopping addiction; contentment hunting; being a good steward; the Dopamine Loop; finding motivation to stop shopping. A big thank you to Seven Productions here in Mulhouse France for the use of the song La Joie as the intro and outro to the show, as well as Matt Kugler, whose new album Aventura is out now on all the digital music platforms, who sang it and to Claude Ekwe, who wrote it.

1. Episode 54: Shopping Hiatus 30:32
2. Episode 53: Curbing Our Impulses 29:41
3. Episode 52: What Should I Wear? 30:16
4. Episode 51: Wardrobe Choices 27:48
5. Episode 50: Decluttering Your Closet 30:11