Rung Two thoughts: A new year, old problems

Reader’s note: Reminder that Rung Two is “The achievement of one’s objectives requires a good plan and consistent effort.” This is an update on how my dots in Franklin’s virtue marking system are working for me.

Here’s a comparison of where I stood after four weeks at June 28, six weeks at July 27, nine-and-a-half weeks at Aug. 23, and 12 weeks at Sept. 16:

Cleanliness: 13, 19, 33, 34

Tranquillity: 7, 10, 22, 32

Temperance: 10, 15, 24, 31

Industry: 16 at 4 weeks, 20 at 6 weeks, 23 at 9.5 weeks, 25 at 12 weeks

Silence: 5, 7, 13, 17

Frugality: 5, 6, 8, 12

Humility: 2, 3, 7, 10

Moderation: 2, 3, 6, 10

Resolution: 2, 5, 9, 10

Sincerity: No dots, 3, 5, 5

Enthusiasm: 0, 0, 1, 4

Generosity: X, X, 2, 4

Order: 2, 2, 2, 3

Justice: 1, 1, 1 (swapped out for Mussar soul-trait Enthusiasm 8/13)

Chastity: 0, 0 (swapped out for Mussar’s Generosity 8/6)

What do we notice?

• Cleanliness is an easy one to notice. So I did, and it’s moved up to No. 1 in total dots.

• I was worried about Industry; I wasn’t doing enough, I thought. But I’m back to using a daily to-do list, and I may not be doing the most important work (Important, Non-Urgent), but I’m getting some work I’ve committed to done (Important and Urgent OR Non-urgent).

• I’ve noticed upset each day—anxiety, worry, regret, embarrassment, loneliness, sadness—and Tranquillity calls that out in spades. A podcast, however, pitched advice: Let the hurt be right where it is without conceptualizing it, without putting words to it, without trying to make a lot of resolutions to fix it. A good experiment.

• Temperance has eased back a bit, with better days than not in eating and drinking.

It’s Rosh HaShanah, which I always find emotionally straining, challenging … a moment to reflect on how much I’ve missed the mark, how much things aren’t how I’d like them to be, etc. The 10 days between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur are supposed to be spent on reflection, repenting and making wrongs right. That’s how it always feels to me.