Benjamin C. Bradlee is pretty satisfied with himself / his life:

Sometimes I am embarrassed at how satisfied I am with my life.

I’m 85 years old.

My doctor has just told me I’m in good physical shape. Actually, he said, “wonderful” shape.

I am surrounded by the people I love. I live in fabulous houses, spectacular enough to be featured in national magazines, yet comfortable enough for someone who values “comfortable” above “beautiful.”

My kids are healthy and apparently happy. And the same for my 10 grandchildren.

I work out in the woods, clearing brush with a tractor and three chain saws.

My wife of many years is a spectacular person, and a great partner.

I had a great ride as editor of a great newspaper. I was lucky enough to fight in a war I believed in and work in a profession I believed in.

I’m still ensconced at The Washington Post. Some people refer to me as a stop-on-the-tour of the paper, but I’m still there.

More satisfaction at the Washington Post.

Some of the comments:

1- Jacob Jozevz “Life is so beautiful with Eclati-On’s.:

“Hello Mr. Bradlee, et al;

Sounds like your still 55. And sounds like You don’t have a worry in the World, and that probably includes your “Poof-TIME a-gonna” so to speaketh.

Please Note that, Your Wife Sally, had my blog truncated or more like purged. Is My “Cosmic Feelings Faith” a/k/a ECLATARIAN, too much for her Atheistic tastes? Please excuse me.

“Be Healthy & ALL Be Well” And Sholom!”

2- Jennifer:

“How wonderful to be at that point in your life and be able to say….”I’m satisified.” I hope on my 85th birthday…I can say the same…Bravo Mr. Bradley!!”

Friendly right?

Well… there are more comments:

1- Anonymous:
“every other sentence starts with the
pronoun “I”….and the emphasis is on
external, professional achievements.”

2- dennizen:
“Anonymous, above at 11:32 had much the same reaction as mine. Is SUCH SHINING self satisfaction to be admired? Though I will say the Washington Post, when you were in charge, was not the neocon flacker it’s become.
You left much undone, tough, mostly concerning your fawning coverage of corrupt Israel.”

3- Norrie Hoyt:
“I agree with Anonymous and Denizen. See my comments about worldly “success” in Randall Balmer’s thread. Professor Balmer also seems to base his “satisfaction” and happiness on worldly accomplishments.

Trumpeting one’s affluence and comfort in a religious forum is unseemly.”

4- milahim:
“Its not where one is. Its where one is heading. In other words its the graph’s SLOPE.
Also, I’ve noted that the truly satisfied rarely toot their own horn.
Anyway, have a good one.”

What a bunch of sad, sad people. This man accomplished a lot. He worked hard to get where he is today. He worked hard to be happy. He was, most likely, asked to write a thanksgiving-kind of article… And the loving commenters at WP’s On Faith decide to attack the man. Jealous anyone?

Always annoys me greatly when people only want to hear about the bad things in life.

Guess what? Life is good. That’s right. It’s good. Let me piss those commenters off a bit more:
I am very satisfied with my life: I’ve got great parents, who’ll support me no matter what.

I have a good relationship with God.

I have a wonderful girlfriend who I love more than I thought I could love anyone.

I have a good, wonderful blog with active commenters.

I am getting (reasonably) good grades.

I have a great sister and brother-in-law who have two beautiful, healthy and intelligent girls.

Although I am a student, I need not worry about money.

I am looking forward to the rest of my life and hope to accomplish a lot: to be inspired and to inspire.

Life is good.

On a more serious note: of course, everyone has his or her own problems, but it doesn’t hurt to look at what’s going well. There are struggles, there are problems, but sometimes we focus so much on those problems that they become all we see.

And that, is a major mistake. There is more to life than problems, there is more to life than darkness.