In 1838, not yet 30 years old, Abraham Lincoln gave this talk at the Lyceum. 180 years later, less patient modern readers can profitably jump ahead to the italicized portions.
My emotional balance has been precarious recently. I’m mostly okay, if only a resigned kind of okay, but then there are the moments where I’ll feel a sudden tightness in my chest, a shallowness of breath, angry warm tears welling up.