If you have anger issues, this one is a great tool (h/t mindyourbusiness)
September 24
“Being unexpected adds to the weight of a disaster, and being a surprise has never failed to increase a person’s pain. For that reason, nothing should ever be unexpected by us. Our minds should be sent out in advance to all things and we shouldn’t just consider the normal course of things, but what could actually happen. For is there anything in life that Fortune won’t knock off its high horse if it pleases her?”
—SENECA, MORAL LETTERS, 91.3a–4
Anything that can happen to anyone can happen to me. I recently was reminded of this when I pulled something in my back. I go to gym and and am fairly strong, but somehow moving a suitcase in the trunk of a car felt like I was stabbed in between my shoulder blades and I couldn’t breathe, move, or talk for about 5 minutes. I am just now able to run again and plan on going to back to the gym for the first time in 3 months next week. Getting upset because it came out of nowhere would not help, and I was able to remain mostly unperturbed by the setback.
September 25
“Show me someone who isn’t a slave! One is a slave to lust, another to greed, another to power, and all are slaves to fear. I could name a former Consul who is a slave to a little old woman, a millionaire who is the slave of the cleaning woman. . . . No servitude is more abject than the self-imposed.”
—SENECA, MORAL LETTERS, 47.17
I don’t think I am a slave to anything. I try to keep my wife happy and I do enjoy having a nice house and the extra money for doing things we enjoy. I try to remember that all of this is outside of my control and not take it for granted or lose myself in pursuit of all of this.
September 26
“Leisure without study is death—a tomb for the living person.”
—SENECA, MORAL LETTERS, 82.4
It is nice to have time off to do nothing. In August my family went on vacation for 10 days and it was glorious. During this vacation, I still read The Daily Stoic in the evenings and made entries in my journal. I think not doing that would make it more difficult to pick it back up after vacation was over.
September 27
“For even peace itself will supply more reason for worry. Not even safe circumstances will bring you confidence once your mind has been shocked—once it gets in the habit of blind panic, it can’t provide for its own safety. For it doesn’t really avoid danger, it just runs away. Yet we are exposed to greater danger with our backs turned.”
—SENECA, MORAL LETTERS, 104.10b
Being well off and in a stable relationship is no guarantee of tranquility. Having a stable mental outlook will keep me stable, regardless of my living conditions. If I manage to stress myself out for no reason, I can create the scenario I am dreading.
September 28
“How appropriate that the gods put under our control only the most powerful ability that governs all the rest—the ability to make the right use of external appearances—and that they didn’t put anything else under our control. Was this simply because they weren’t willing to give us more? I think if it had been possible they would have given us more, but it was impossible.
—EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 1.1.7–8
The ability to control myself is the most important ability I have. I still get angrier than I should, but I am usually able to stop myself and fix my attitude. In the past once I was angry, my day was pretty much ruined. If I had the ability to control more, how would I do in the days of anger? As long as I control myself, that is all the control I need.
September 29
“Nothing can satisfy greed, but even a small measure satisfies nature. So it is that the poverty of an exile brings no misfortune, for no place of exile is so barren as not to produce ample support for a person.”
—SENECA, ON CONSOLATION TO HELVIA, 10.11b
I have more than I need, but still see things that I wish I could afford. There will probably never be an amount that will eliminate this. I try to remember how I used to live when I was younger and tell myself if I had to, I could easily live like that again.
September 30
“If you lay violent hands on me, you’ll have my body, but my mind will remain with Stilpo.”
—ZENO, QUOTED IN DIOGENES LAERTIUS, LIVES OF THE EMINENT PHILOSOPHERS, 7.1.24
My body is not under my control. I could have a debilitating injury or illness tomorrow. I could be wrongly convicted of a crime and put in prison. As long as my mind remains mine, none of that will actually hurt me. If I whine and let these external forces control my mentality, then I have truly lost everything.
Music this week is from Unleash the Archers. Their lead singer is one of the most powerful singers in metal.
Awakening
Dawn of Ages with Steve Smith appearance
General of the Dark Army
With what is going on financially these days, I’ve been reminding myself of this more and more.
I live pretty simply now, except for my plastic addiction
I can’t live like that again, my body literally can’t properly digest the foods I lived on back then.
I don’t think I am a slave to anything. I try to keep my wife happy and I do enjoy having a nice house and the extra money for doing things we enjoy.
So you’re a slave to your wife.
/ducking
I just asked mine and she said I wasn’t, so I’ve got that going for me.
Mine said “of course you are.” Then she made me a sandwich. I’m so confused.
You’re expected to earn that sandwich… in mysterious ways you will never be able to comprehend.
Mine said “of course you are.”
Then she banged my eyeballs out.
Ahhhhh, sometimes it’s good to be a slave…
I’ll take “Things that didn’t happen” for $500, Alex.
I go to gym and and am fairly strong, but somehow moving a suitcase in the trunk of a car felt like I was stabbed in between my shoulder blades and I couldn’t breathe, move, or talk for about 5 minutes.
Sorry.
Something from Stuart McGill’s “The Gift of Injury”: You always need to respect the weight. No matter how heavy or light it is.
When I was deadlifting earlier this week, tabata-style deadlifts, even though the weight was light because it is a de-load week, I was trying to be more careful about my bracing unlike last week. It helped.
In August my family went on vacation for 10 days and it was glorious.
🙂
Excellent
The ability to control myself is the most important ability I have. I still get angrier than I should, but I am usually able to stop myself and fix my attitude. In the past once I was angry, my day was pretty much ruined. If I had the ability to control more, how would I do in the days of anger? As long as I control myself, that is all the control I need.
I have not been very stoic at work this week. I managed to not curse, which is better than in the past.
Thanks Ron!
High rep deadlifts scare me. I am glad that you are able to do them, though! That’s amazing after where you were.
Yeah… it’s something you have to be very careful with.
I still get odd aches, pains, and cramps. Gotta remember to be careful. But even so, I am much better off than I was in late 2019/early 2020.
Oh, and a little glibfit preview: The trainer I’m working with now and I were talking about my trying a powerlifting competition in about six months.
Good idea! Keep us in the loop.
Don’t hurt yourself.
That girl is awfully cute, but not cute enough to get me to listen to METAL.
“Being unexpected adds to the weight of a disaster, and being a surprise has never failed to increase a person’s pain. For that reason, nothing should ever be unexpected by us. Our minds should be sent out in advance to all things and we shouldn’t just consider the normal course of things, but what could actually happen. For is there anything in life that Fortune won’t knock off its high horse if it pleases her?”
It’s a tough line to walk: not wanting to be blindsided vs. being a cynical doomster. And Fortune really is a bitch.
I try to roll with the punches, but it’s getting tougher. Even when good things happen, I’m waiting for the roof to cave in.
I think I need to go fishing.
Dow is in bear territory this morning. It’s just a number.
While it affects me I’m rather stoic about it. My fall back is the evening I walked across the high school stage at graduation I had $5 in my pocket. Now I have $10, even if it’s not worth much.
/Poster Boy for Mad Magazine
Good advice as always, Fourscore.
401k down 19%. How far is that in inches?
Its tough figuring out when to jump back into the market.
I never got out. Rode the pony up, riding it down. It’ll go back up, it’s the time element that’s a problem.
Had that discussion this week with my financial guy – even with retirement planned for next year, that account won’t be touched for at least 2 years. I’m not sweating the short term.
Speaking of fishing… while at the AGM last weekend, they did a craft fair, and there was a vendor there that may be of interest to the Glibs. They make minimalist fishing and backpacking gear.
That’s awesome! Thanks, brother!
I remember Robert Heinlein’s comment in about all organizations consisting of a Surprise Party Department, a Practical Joke Department, and a Fairy Godmother Department. The latter consists of one elderly GS-15 with weak kidneys; she’s mostly in the bathroom,, so the other two take care of most matters.
Some days, it’s true.
t’s a tough line to walk: not wanting to be blindsided vs. being a cynical doomster
Expect the worst. Occasionally, you will be pleasantly surprised. If not, you at least have the grim satisfaction of having been right.
Honey Harvest was a success, a number of Glibs, good food and oh yeah, we got a little honey as well.
🙂
Fantastic!
It sure was fun zooming with y’all!
Plan for the worst, hope for the best. . . . . that’s how it used to be.
I forgot to include this:
Huberman on stress relief
It’s a simple breathing technique, but it really works. A couple and my heart rate drops!
It will make you a better stoic.
Interesting. I’ll try that next time I’m around Jimbo.
I can’t guarantee miracles, Mike!
Hola, Glibbies! Thanks for our weekly Stoicism fix, Ron.
OT (sorta)
Someone recommended a guy’s substack to me, Rob Henderson – and after reading, I thought that this group would find his writing interesting.
I’ve only read two of his pieces, but they’re both pretty good and somewhat related.
Dude grew up in rough circumstances, foster care, the whole 9, but somehow managed to get into Yale.
I highly commend his piece on “luxury beliefs” – call it a cousin to “virtue signalling” – but a much more substantial and well-considered look at the origins of it.
(I also can recommend his piece entitled “No One Expects Young Men To Do Anything and They Are Responding By Doing Nothing.” Read the comments as well.)
Thanks, Ozy!
He looks like an interesting cat.
I was reading Dr. Michael Eades’ (the “Protein Power” guy) newsletter and he recommended Rob Henderson and the article on “luxury beliefs.”
Henderson does seem an interesting cat. He grew up poor, but now finds himself mingling with the elites of society (he’s at Cambridge University, I believe).
He seems to have turned his life and experience into a sort-of “Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court” exploration of all of the crazy shit he sees from rich people, but he’s not ranting, or even judgmental (at least that I can tell). He’s like the Jane Goodall of rich folks: what they believe, how they behave, and his thoughts on why that is.
Ah yeah, that’s where I saw his name.
He’s like the Jane Goodall of rich folks
Lol.
Seems like a useful enterprise, usually we are getting whatever they feed us about them (and of course, the rando stories about pedo Island, etc.)
Man, that is so my way of staying sane while observing corporate (back in the day) and bureaucratic (these days) politics. Just remind myself I’m only watching the apes, I’m not one of them.
I’d seen his name somewhere recently but hadn’t looked at his substack yet.
Thanks for the rec.
Someone let Heil Brandon out of the basement again.
On Thursday, Biden participated in a Democratic National Committee reception in New York.
During his speech, Biden admitted that he’s “not just talking about Trump” when he calls “MAGA Republicans” a threat to the country.
“And one of the things that I think is really important is that — you know, the press is here, and they sometimes, legitimately — legitimately criticize me a lot, legitimately. But one of the things they talk about — when I talk about MAGA Republicans, I’m not just talking about Trump, I’m talking about those folks who have a different view of how the institutions should function,” Biden said.
Never mind the rest of the dishonest, gaslighting horseshit in the speech.
Biden is just saying out loud what the Democrats really think.
Was it scripted? The day after his big Fourth Reich speech he made an off the cuff comment about how he wasn’t talking about Trump voters. Seems like he says different things on script and off script.
Who knows anymore?
The stakes are getting higher and he’s getting more and more demented by the day.
After four years of 25th Amdt talk and not a peep when we SHOULD be talking about it.
That’s rich coming from the guy who’s dedicated most of his public speaking to dividing the country further.
LOL
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/23/google-ceo-pichai-fields-questions-on-cost-cuts-at-all-hands-meeting-.html
That’s like something straight out of a comedy caricature of a Silicon Valley CEO.
Someone dumped a kitten in the ditch in front of my house, I heard it last Friday and shined my phone light that direction in the early morning and saw the eyes. Since I was headed to work I was hoping it would sort itself out and it seemed like it did. Sunday afternoon my wife tells me she sees someone is putting a kitten in the ditch and I lose my stoicism. I went out the door hollering and cussing, telling them they are piece of shit if they are leaving a cat in the ditch. A lady rolls down her window and tells me her 11 year old daughter found it and took it home but they can’t keep it. I half-ass apologize, still they are re-dumping a kitten, and go inside. I drank a lot of bourbon and load my Marlin .22 rifle, walk out to the culvert it’s in and hear it meowing, so I meow back at it. Little gray 8 week old kitty pops out of the culvert and walks straight up to me and rubs my leg. Damnitall, now I have a new kitten, complete with worms and mites, named Marlin. He’s getting treated for the ailments and has to be quarantined from my other cats so he is living in my master bath/closet. Sweet kitten, likes to play, belly rubs and snooze on laps. People are asshole, I like cats better.
Pics or it didn’t happen.
I dumped my photobucket account, so it probably didn’t happen.
“Blessed are those who rescue and are kind to animals; they shall receive their righteous desserts… Wretched are those pieces of shit who are the opposite; they’re going to get the spiritual equivalent of the boats.”
– The Book of Ozy, Chapter I, v. 23
Good on ya, Necron.
http://looneytunescaps.blogspot.com/2012/06/feed-kitty.html
People are asshole, I like cats better.
Word.
Indeed. Even when they jump on my back during meetings and slide off. I still like them.
The majority of our family pets have been “ditch dogs” (or cats) in one way or another. Evidently, starving for awhile in one’s animal youth tends to make them very easy-going and family-friendly once they’re actually get a home.
Damnitall, now I have a new kitten,
🙂
You’re a good dude, Necron, I don’t care what those other dudes say.
Glad you saved the little guy Necron. Pretty amazing that a soulless death automaton would have it in him.
People are asshole, I like cats better.
Cats are assholes – they’re still better than people.
And in Holy Shit news, the Euro fell 3% against the dollar this week.
If the Fed holds course, the EU is headed for dissolution.
I used to travel on business. I went to Europe before and after the EU. It was so much easier moving between countries and using one currency.
But, yeah, it looks like the “United States of Europe” experiment is going to end badly.
And also the United States of America shortly after.
Russian Federation as well.
Maybe China who knows?
Based on the link yesterday, China may be first in line.
Ruble is up 9.33% against the GBP today.
Admittedly, I’d like to see the Brussels bureaucrats sink into the sea forever. They’re a stain on humanity.
I’ve still got my East Germany stamped passport from 1988.
Holy Hell, the GBP is down 5% this week.
The reaper is getting his due.
The USD is the floatiest turd in the punchbowl.
The CHF is 1.02 USD now… yikes.
He’s like the Jane Goodall of rich folks
*outright, prolonged laughter*
Progs in the Mist.
#metoo
when I talk about MAGA Republicans, I’m not just talking about Trump, I’m talking about those folks who have a different view of how the institutions should function,” Biden said.
It’s outrageous to see people who don’t agree with me running around loose.
People are asshole, I like cats better.
METOO
Me too, and I don’t like cats.
As someone with 2 dogs, I was thinking the same thing.
The inactive Kentucky Speedway is now a storage facility for a massive collection of unfinished Ford trucks visible from space
The automaker said earlier this week that it currently had over 40,000 trucks and SUVs that it couldn’t finish because of a lack of parts. It’s not the only manufacturer facing the same scenario. GM also has thousands of cars unfinished that are waiting on parts.
A former CEO at my work said “Inventory is Evil”. Like dumping money into a fire pit.
It is, until you need something.
Hmmm…..
Ford sitting on giant inventory
Blowing huge wads of cash developing insanely expensive electric toy cars
Major recession ahead
*Retreats to cave to watch movies
Nationalization of auto manufacturers in the GM style incoming.
I was about to suggest selling short on Ford – but you reminded me that losses are covered by taxpayers now.
You got any room in that cave. I can bring booze!
Yes. Giant stack of movies, food and booze. I am nothing if not generous to my fellow civilization quitters.
It’s the inventory of stuff you’re supposed to be selling that you don’t want to have TOO much of.
Critical spares are not that kind of thing.
Oh, I get it. I’m just mocking the JIT/outsource everything trend that overtook manufacturing in the past three decades.
Bring back the Iron Mountain!
/90A shaking fist at the Army
It looks like there is a Chechen the armor.
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said he has exempted his region from Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military call-up following protests in his home region and his anger over a recent Russian-Ukrainian prisoner exchange.
Kadyrov said late Thursday that Chechnya had already deployed 20,000 troops since the start of the Ukraine invasion in February.
“The republic of Chechnya over-fulfilled its conscription plan by 254%… even before the announcement of a partial mobilization,” he wrote in a Telegram post.
Seems he wants something in return.
He is already absolute ruler of that patch. Maybe he is tired of sending his troops to get ground down…needs ’em at home to prop himself up?
As with everything else in life, you get what you negotiate, not what you deserve.