[DanaC]

Sometimes you read something penned in another age and there's just something so compellingly human about it. There's an element of gendered expectations to it, in that this is specifically a set of behaviours for nuns to avoid and there was a particular set of behaviours and tones that were especially associated with old women.

But it is a pretty warm and respectful expression of it and doesn't specifically present them as faults of old ladies - I like that it is presented more generally than that, as possible faults of old age, borne of years of struggle and learning, and through which most us hope to navigate, if we're very lucky. It speaks to something human and recognisable even at a remove of centuries. The idea of wanting the fortitude to age gracefully and with acceptance.

I find that a lot with early modern writing, that sudden sense of connection . Some of the early medieval stuff, like Bede has moments like that too. Surprisingly direct and to the point at times.