I love this, it's very recognizable. I love how structured this is. This is to me what the books of Ayn Rand were about: rational self interest. Rational as in

I love this, it's very recognizable. I love how structured this is. This is to me what the books of Ayn Rand were about: rational self interest. Rational as in social and kind, but with a healthy regard for the interests of the self (good luck figuring those out btw, but man is it important in almost all aspects of life). Ayn Rand to me was not about being anti- or pro-state, or about the "motors of the economy" that deserve to reap the benefits. Rational self interest was my primary take away from Howard Roark and Dagny Taggart. Aren't those people that wouldn't be with you tonight (or at any time), if they didn't really want to, the best people to be around? Those people that are with you because they genuinely want to be, they should be treasured. What value is there in those others? What are they doing with their lives anyway? What are you doing dragging your feet again and again to places you don't enjoy? Do you even remember what you, YOU, really enjoy? I struggled a lot with this. In this sense, Ayn Rand helped me "grow up" as OP puts it. Yes, Roark goes way further than I would probably ever go, but Roark is not me and I enjoy a bit of harmony seeking in a group (up to a certain level that is), or setting an atmosphere. Ayn made heroes out of entrepreneurial, intelligent loners, imho that is not a core requirement of her philosophy (or way of life). It is about knowing the self, also when that self is more of a social animal, a bit of pleaser from time to time even. Imho it is true that self-esteem correlates with how much joy you will let yourself feel in life. Too much and you hurt others, too little and you hurt yourself. There must be a balance.