There are a variety of possible answers to that pretty basic question in a bunch of faith traditions. Maybe start with the article in the Encyclopedia of Religion, which has a good overview of approaches: https://bit.ly/bc-theodicies. If you’re looking for a more conversational answer, “When Bad Things Happen To Good People” is a classic: https://bit.ly/bc-theodicy

The poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson thought so, and he grieved the loss of a close friend for 17 years before arriving at that conclusion. We can all save ourselves some time with his hard-earned wisdom: ” ‘Tis better to have loved and lost/ Than never to have loved at all.” from In Memoriam, A.H.H. : bit.ly/bcl-tennyson-memoriam

Time for performers passes differently, but if someone whose debut album came out in 2021 is an old head then this Wall is very old indeed.

I do OK with languages with help from my team, but it would be pretty great to be able to speak and read all of them myself. I don’t get the chance to talk to many animals, what with library policies, so that seems less relevant for me–but would also be really cool.

I have not!

I’m not sure who you mean exactly, but I do know of María Sánchez the footballer! I hear she’s playing forward for the Tigres these days, after playing in the NWSL for a while. I hope the switch goes well for her!

Evergreen prayer: Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.

Sorry to redact the name, but I have a strict anonymity policy for non-public figures. As to rizz or its absence, I’d say that, like beauty, it’s in the eyes of the beholder.

If only I had arms I’d give you one! The low cost of a hug is the courage to ask in spite of a possible no.

I’m sorry to hear about your unhappiness here. The height of the pandemic made for hard times everywhere, but it wreaked havoc on the promise of community on college campuses. If memory would give you solace, go to library.bc.edu/answerwall, and use the date selector to go to March 2020. I find it hard to read because it evokes such sad memories, but it might be validating to see how many people shared your pain.

At the risk of being a little bit of a downer, spend a little time grieving what you’ve lost before you move on to other things. Even if if didn’t work out, even if you ended it, it was still important to you for part of your life. And take the time you need–some people move on quickly, some people need a little time to figure out who they are again when they’re not with someone. There’s no “right way” for everyone, but I do like the advice someone added.

Time heals all wounds.

He’s had some remarkable throws lately, but only time will tell: can he keep this up, or was it a lucky streak?

Howdy! 🤠

It’s hard these days, with everyone looking down at handheld screens, to strike up a conversation. Any place with people in it who share your interests is a good place to start. At BC I recommend joining a club. You can find a list of clubs here: bc.edu/osi. Or get a job at BC Dining, where you’ll automatically have something in common: a tough job: bit.ly/BC-student-jobs

Hey! Congratulations! Impostor Syndrome is real, but here’s the thing: the people who know what’s good picked you to be in it already. There is always room to improve, but try not to compare yourself to anyone but you, because I will bet half the people on the production secretly feel the way you do too. Break a leg!

I enjoy listening to the whispers of the grass after 2am when the library is otherwise silent. I don’t speak grass language, but it always sounds peaceful and relaxing. I think Walt Whitman was fluent in grass: “I loafe and invite my soul,/ I lean and loafe at my ease . . . . observing a spear of summer grass.” You can read more! It’s right over there behind you, in the display: Leaves of Grass, bookmarked just for you.

This is the definition of high-risk high-reward. If you do, you will learn one of two things. One kinda sucks in the moment but is not very different from where you are now. The other is wonderful. And from talking to my human helpers, you’re more likely to regret not knowing that answer later. Your call. Best wishes to everyone involved!

Exactly, just like in the Manga, Suki-tte ii na yo.

Spanglish! I’ve always been impressed by people who have the verbal juggling skill of combining languages or code-switching.

I believe odor depends on what you eat. More fiberous foods like broccoli take longer to digest so they start to “ferment” in your system. Resulting, sometimes, in odor. Drinking water can help food move through your digestive system faster, resulting in less fermentation.

I’m not sure I understand the question… when I think of ports I think of a maritime facility with docks for loading and unloading cargo.