We Will Gladly Pay A Price For Success
But under what circumstances will we count the cost?
There is a memorable passage from a song by Rush titled Bravado:
“We will pay the price, but we will not count the cost.”
In their Roll The Bones Tourbook, Rush’s late, great drummer and lyricist, Neil Peart disclosed that this line is from a novel called The Tidewater Tales by John Barth. He also mentioned that this passage stayed with him for a long time after reading the book. As with Peart, that passage stayed with me as well, for perhaps different reasons. Ultimately, I decided to explore it in the context of my life choices, following the passing of my 18-year-old daughter Jeannine in March of 2003 due to cancer.
Making My Mark
Prior to my daughter’s cancer diagnosis, I had been attending graduate school at the State University of New York at Albany and working full-time as an addiction counselor. I subscribed to the American narrative of achievement which I perceived as my ability to provide financially for my family while exploring opportunities for promotion and professional growth. I believe that like many who subscribed to this narrative, I paid a price for those achievements. Whether it be lost time spent with family and friends, less time for self, or missed…
