Hello all,

I recently downloaded the app and was having issues with verifying my account. I believe it's rectified now so no worries there.

Anyway what prompted me to want to join was the episode on why pearl should have hope. I believe the question was aimed at why she should have hope for marriage in our current society. The timing of that episode couldn't have been better, as I've been struggling with hope in my own life as well. Being a mid 30s guy whose sleeping in his car by choice to pay down mistakes I've made last year makes you question existence sometimes, let alone marriage, but I'll give it my best shot with what I've got.

There's this book I'm working through titled "the courage to be disliked", and it focuses on the psychological approach that Alfred Adler took in the early 1900s. The main premise is that ALL problems are interpersonal relationship problems. That everyone CAN change, but only if they want to. The concept is that it frees people from their past traumas and puts the power of change into their hands by living in the present moment using task oriented approaches to life. I.e. other people's approval IS NOT my task for my life. Whether or not other people want to approve of me is completely THEIR task, and so I am free to live MY life....etc. etc.

What's the relevance?

Apply it to the question pearl asked: it's her own task to decide to have hope or not. Not mine. The trajectory for our society based on the data and it's implication for marriage is not good. We can all see that.

And yet given that information I believe that what pearl is doing with her channel IS a sign of hope....because she's one of the ONLY conservative oriented people who asks hard questions and doesn't just brush things under a rug. Even more than that, she's beautiful and she seems that she would be a great wife and mom someday BECAUSE she cares enough to confront the issues so many people turn a blind eye to with regards to one of the most important human relationships ever. Faith IS NOT faith, if it cannot be questioned. Period. And I say that as a more agnostic leaning individual with my own skeletons in the closet.

I know words are cheap. I know it's so easy for me to sit here and type this out. But if you read this Pearl, I think what you are doing is good and refreshing. You are NOT crazy. You are NOT a "bad catholic". In another life I'd genuinely ask you out on a date to know more about you and meet your father. But the reality is I'm just some guy on the internet throwing a message in a bottle because fuck it.

So. Yeah.

Anyway, "the courage to be disliked". Great book, give it a read (it's on audible as well) totally worth it in my opinion. Thank you for your time and thank you for what you do Pearl and the audacity team. Have a good day.