Welcome back to another Question of the Week here at The Confusing Middle! For those of you who've been following along, you know the drill—every Saturday, I crack open Gregory Stock's The Book of Questions and let it mess with my head (and hopefully yours). We're now 468 weeks deep into this philosophical rabbit hole, … Continue reading Question of the Week #468
Illness
The Healer’s Daughter
The fever had taken hold of Thomas three days ago, and Elisabeth knew with the certainty that comes from watching too many neighbors buried that her little brother was dying. She knelt beside his small form on the rough-hewn bed, pressing a damp cloth to his burning forehead. At eight years old, Thomas had always … Continue reading The Healer’s Daughter
Question of the Week #445
In our ongoing exploration of life's profound ethical questions, we tackle another thought-provoking scenario from Gregory Stock's The Book of Questions. This week's question cuts to the heart of sacrifice, obligation, and the boundaries of personal responsibility: Someone close to you will die in a few months unless you donate one of your kidneys to … Continue reading Question of the Week #445
Question of the Week #302
Would you have one of your fingers removed surgically if it somehow guaranteed you immunity from all major diseases? Okay... assuming "surgically" removed means under anesthesia and I'll feel nothing as opposed to having a loan shark's leg breaker slice off my finger with one of those things that cuts off the ends of cigars, … Continue reading Question of the Week #302
Question of the Week #292
If you found that you had only 6 months to live, but wouldn't look ill until near the end, how long would you wait to tell family? Friends? Acquaintances? This feels like a spin-off of last week's question... I think, in this situation, I'd tell my closest family and friends right away. Because I'd want … Continue reading Question of the Week #292
Work Ethic
What does it mean to have a good work ethic? Does it mean that, no matter the circumstances, come hell or high water, you are gung-ho about punching in and doing your job? Does it mean that you’ve set goals for yourself and your life and you’re willing to do what it takes to achieve … Continue reading Work Ethic
What Immune System?
I had a lot of plans this weekend. I was planning to move (again). I was planning to donate blood. I was planning to write blog posts. Those plans have changed. Because I'm sick (again). Here's the thing... I'm back to working in a school. If you've been keeping up with my blog posts for … Continue reading What Immune System?
Being Sick
It's my fault. Really. I jinxed myself. If such a thing is possible. And it's because I was bragging about how I wasn't getting sick. See, according to Timehop, around this time each year, I'm usually sick or getting over some kind of illness. Usually it begins around Christmas. It's usually a variation on the … Continue reading Being Sick
Question of the Week #98
You know you will die of an incurable disease within three months. Would you allow yourself to be frozen within the week if you knew it would give you a modest chance of being revived in 1,000 years and living a greatly extended life? I have a hard enough time making friends now, as it … Continue reading Question of the Week #98
Nap Time
Welcome to In the Words of a Non-Parent! The part of the blog where I, a non-parent, give parenting advice to parents. Today we explore what happens when your kids just won't go to sleep. It's frustrating, right? So you've put your toddler down for his or her afternoon nap and the kid just won't … Continue reading Nap Time
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