I really liked this one, H/T mindyourbusiness:
Disclaimer: I’m not your Supervisor. These are my opinions after reading through these books a few times.
March 26
“How does your ruling reason manage itself? For in that is the key to everything. Whatever else remains, be it in the power of your choice or not, is but a corpse and smoke.”
—MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 12.33
Just because I now what I am trying to do with my perceptions, doesn’t mean I will always do it. How I act on my own is a true test of my ability to control my anger or frustration. I can control it better than before, but I have found it’s easier when my wife is with me. I have improved a great deal, but I did notice a little more frustration creeping in while I was by myself.
March 27
“Diogenes of Sinope said we sell things of great value for things of very little, and vice versa.”
—DIOGENES LAERTIUS, LIVES OF THE EMINENT PHILOSOPHERS, 6.2.35b
I I try not to waste what is important to me. If I let a work issue bother me while I am home, that is selling my time at home for very cheap, since I get nothing out of it except stress. I also trade my happiness for anger when I am working on my truck, an activity I claim to enjoy. If I keep control of myself, it is a much more enjoyable experience and worth the time and effort I put into it.
March 28
“Life without a design is erratic. As soon as one is in place, principles become necessary. I think you’ll concede that nothing is more shameful than uncertain and wavering conduct, and beating a cowardly retreat. This will happen in all our affairs unless we remove the faults that seize and detain our spirits, preventing them from pushing forward and making an all-out effort.”
—SENECA, MORAL LETTERS, 95.46
I never had a plan for my life. I joined the Marines at 18 and after I got out I bounced from factory work to mechanic, to roofing, and then I got married and was a framing carpenter for a long time. I do much better as a married man than I did as a single person. This is because my wife gave me a reason to have principles and make sure that my family was taken care of.
March 29
“If you should ever turn your will to things outside your control in order to impress someone, be sure that you have wrecked your whole purpose in life. Be content, then, to be a philosopher in all that you do, and if you wish also to be seen as one, show yourself first that you are and you will succeed.”
—EPICTETUS, ENCHIRIDION, 23
I wish I could say nothing I do is to impress other people. I do not do things for the express purpose of impressing people, but I do enjoy it when someone notices my truck or my house and I was very happy to show off my new tool box. I try not to, but am not in total control of that impulse yet.
March 30
“Hurry to your own ruling reason, to the reason of the Whole, and to your neighbor’s. To your own mind to make it just; to the mind of the Whole to remember your place in it; and to your neighbor’s
mind to learn whether it’s ignorant or of sound knowledge—while recognizing it’s like yours.”
—MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 9.22
In making a decision, I should consult outside of myself or my bubble. It is important to remember that while I can be misled, so can others. I try very hard to be correct and follow my principles. Right now, there are very few people that I can trust to be honest and principled, so I’m not sure how much value I get from the people I work with or even my family if I bounce an opinion off of them.
March 31
“Chasing what can’t be done is madness. But the base person is unable to do anything else.”
—MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 5.17
It is important to maintain a sense of reality when I make plans or set goals. I am 50 and running is still something I enjoy. I used to be able to run 3 miles in 19-20 minutes. Realistically I know that will never happen again, but it is still frustrating when I run steadily and the improvement is so small. I hurt my foot this week (smashed my toes into a corner wall) and am not running, so I am trying to be a good worker and husband on 5 hours sleep, this is not going well. I need to get back on schedule and not use the excuse of “I’m not running, so I can stay up later to read”.
April 1
Your mind will take the shape of what you frequently hold in thought, for the human spirit is colored by such impressions.”
—MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 5.16
If I am grumpy from lack of sleep all day, it is easy to get angry after I get to work. If I have been angry at work, it is easy to be angry at my wife for no reason. It is easy for these moods to snowball. It is also true that if I am an i good mood at work, it is much easier to greet my wife with a smile when I get home. If I control my mood, it can snowball in a good way for me.
This week’s music is from the second of The Dead South’s two new albums.
Easy Listening for Jerks Pt. 2 has interesting covers:
Hey-oh!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_A58231NFk
Well played.
Agreed!
Try not to suck any dicks on your way through the parking lot!
I would have been disappointed by any other link
Silent Bob: There’s a million fine looking girls in the world. But they don’t all bring you lasagna to work. Most of them just cheat on you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD4l8wpbrRI
“Life without a design is erratic. As soon as one is in place, principles become necessary. I think you’ll concede that nothing is more shameful than uncertain and wavering conduct, and beating a cowardly retreat. This will happen in all our affairs unless we remove the faults that seize and detain our spirits, preventing them from pushing forward and making an all-out effort.”
I read this as somewhat differently than a plan. A design, I think, is something along the line of “I will live a life of ____________” and then cultivating the knowledge, toughness and resilience to actually accomplish it. Really fucking difficult, I think.
Personally, I think I’ve spent too much time on plans/goals, rather than design. Even at my advanced age, I’m still not sure I have one.
Thanks, Ron. I really look forward to these.
“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
Being able to answer that question is more difficult than making it happen. The trick to getting what you want is to know what you want.
That’s it. I think the question is “who”, not what.
I just want to be a nice person. I try.
You are.
I refuse to grow up and I still don’t know what I want to be.
I knew what I didn’t want to do. Farming.
I knew what I didn’t want to be like. My dad.
“All we ever asked was to be left alone”
I suppose eventually I’ll be an adult.
As far as I’m concerned, just because you can’t avoid LOOKING like an adult doesn’t mean you have to BE one.
I’ve noticed that when I’m at work or with my idiot friends, I tend to act like my kid.
When I’m with my kid, I act like my Dad.
I might look like a fifty year old, but I don’t look like an adult.
Longish hair and still rocking Iron Maiden t-shirts.
I had none of that for a long time.
I knew I wanted to be a Marine and that’s as far as I went with any looks to the future.
After I got married, I wanted to do what I had to to ensure I didn’t get divorced, I think that was when I started looking ahead more.
Ron, thanks for introducing me to The Practicing Stoic. Fine piece of work. In exchange, got another one for you; try Practical Stoicism, by Gary Freeman (if you haven’t already). I think it’s meant to be read in one of those whenever-you-have-a-free-moment times.
I was listening to a guy talk about this on Rumble yesterday. His takeaway was that if you don’t have a plan for yourself, you default to somebody else’s plan for you. Whose plan? Certainly not somebody who has your best interests at heart.
Pssst: bad link on the first song.
Maybe I was just seeing if people actually were clicking.
We Used to Vacation
I thought of this series yesterday when I spent 2 hours stuffed into a MRI tube with my arms at my side, my back screaming in pain, and my nose itching like it was on fire.
Thanks, Ron.
And?
Did you get any answers?
Yikes!
Two hours seems like a long time. Any news?
Will discuss the results with my MD in about a week and a half. Trying to be stoic until then.
And now we play the waiting game.
Ugh. Sorry you have to wait so long. Can it be taken as a good sign? If results were obviously bad, you’d get an earlier appointment…?
Hang in there, friend. Focus on the positive.
Nothing but positivity and prayers for you, Hobbit.
I hope for the best for you.
@Mike the appointment was made to give me time to get the tests out of the way. No one knows anything at this point (perhaps the MRI tech can read it but she has to pass it along to the doc.
@all Thank you for your thoughts and support.
Hope it turns out ok, that MRI sounds like hell
@Ron
I’ve been listening to the Stoicism On Fire podcast by Chris Fisher. He also has TraditionalStoicism.com as well as a Facebook page. He makes it quite clear that most modern Stoics are purposely leaving out the spiritual aspect of Stoicism. He specifically calls out some of the biggest names i.e. Irvine, PigIiucci, and Holiday. I noticed this reading some Holiday articles on his website, but being so new to it all I didn’t really clue in on it. What’s your thoughts on this? Did you choose Modern Stoicism (I’m making an assumption based on your book recommendations) for this reason, or is it not something you’ve just not put a lot of thought into?
Fisher’s opinion is that it’s fine if Moderns want to create a Stoicism without all the “God-talk”, but he maintains it is NOT Stoicism as the ancients practiced it, and can never be. And by doing so, they are opening up Stoicism to be reinterpreted in any way one wishes, meaning you could end up with a myriad of different “flavors” of Stoicism.
re: Fisher. He mentions it in more than one podcast, but he sums up his thoughts and criticisms very well in Episode 15 – The Religious Nature of Stoicism.
Thanks. Downloaded.
I think it’s wrong to assume there was only one flavor of stoicism anyway. Though I also wouldn’t agree with just leaving out the historical religious aspects either.
I don’t think he assumes there is only one flavor, that’s my poor description of his argument.
I’m not a religious person, I have read the bible and follow its teachings, but I never could quite believe the spiritual part.
As far as many “flavors” pf Stoicism, I think it is a personal philosophy and yopu should “customize” it to fit with your personality and beliefs.
I used to gt the Daily Stoic emails, and whoever sent that out managed to twist stoicism to be against “kids in cages” and “there were fine people” so I quit following them.
I read the books above, and I agree with them, but I am sure there are a myriad of them that I would not agree with even if they are ostensibly Stoic.
“Flavors” was a poor choice of words. His argument is that if you can ignore, or even remove, one of the three pillars of Stoicism – Physics (Nature or “god”) – then what’s to stop you from ignoring the other two; Logic and Ethics? If a person wants to create their own philosophy (just as Zeno built off of Cynicism to create Stoicism) he’s all for it, it’s just that that isn’t Stoicism. Or, it at least isn’t Traditional Stoicism as it’s been understood for centuries. I don’t know enough yet to say he is absolutely correct, but at this point in my learning, I agree.
I’m not bringing all this up to criticize or condemn you, it’s just as I learn more I want to discuss it more and I don’t know anyone IRL who I could do that with.
One interesting thing about Fisher; he was a devoted atheist before and during his early days of learning about Stoicism. I haven’t yet heard him explain how he came to not only accept, but champion the “Physics” pillar of Stoicism.
Thanks a lot for doing these, and if you ever need a fill-in for a week, I’d be honored to help out.
I didn’t think you were criticizing me, I’m in the same boat when it comes to discussing this.
If you get a benefit out of following Stoicism, does it matter if it is “true” Stoicism?
I am not religious, but I do believe it is natural to be a good person, so I do not ignore that part of it.
Or, maybe logic + ethics= following nature?
That’s a very good question. My immediate answer is to say yes, it matters. However, I can’t back up that answer with logic…it’s just how I “feel”. Maybe in a couple months I can back up my viewpoint better…or maybe it will have changed. ?
Another interesting question I don’t think I’m ready to argue about, yet. haha
I’ll take a stab at it.
There is a reason things were formulated how they were, probably not immediately afterwards, but eventually, you’ll see the problem of making changes without properly consulting the past. Yes, this is just Chesterton’s fences for philosophy.
To perhaps apply a better assertion to the second- you can’t properly use logic and ethics without an understanding of physics. You’re almost certain to get it wrong. I’m not sure how, as I’m also now particularly devout, my aspirations and avatar aside, but life is better understood, better tolerated with God in it. That seems to imply there is a truth there, though perhaps not a provable truth.
. . . . but life is better understood, better tolerated with God in it.
For you perhaps. I find that theory unnecessary.
I’d say it’s more than anecdotal. Maybe not every single person absolutely requires it, but I’m not sure you end up with a good society without a general acceptance of the concept either.
I’m not particularly devout as I (tried to) mentioned, and always struggled with the concept of belief in God.
I just finished the podcast Mike recommended.
It’s only 30 minutes and it is very helpful.
Or, maybe logic + ethics= following nature?
He addresses this exact question. Trying to connect the individual with the divine spark.
Great podcast.
You sure you’re a nodak?
If you listen to those Vikings in Minnesota, you’d think you’re all a bunch of hayseeds.
If be interested to hear more, but I’ve always been more interested in the practical applications of the philosophy rather than formulating it anew. You’re already over my head.
You betcha!
I’m still so far from grasping the basics that I’m probably getting ahead of myself arguing this point. The whole idea of “is Modern Stoicism real Stoicism…and does it matter” really struck a chord. I wonder what my opinion will be when I get farther into it. I suspect I will only feel more strongly that it isn’t, but only time will tell…
Maybe you could do some more research and submit something to tptb. I’d be interested.
I’ve been thinking about it. However, I’ve said before I’d like to write something on various topics and haven’t followed through. It would be a great exercise to help myself gain a better understanding. I’ll give it a shot. The trick will be forming my own argument and not just parroting Fisher.
I’m still so far from grasping the basics that I’m probably getting ahead of myself arguing this point.
I think that’s the best way to improve your grasp of the basics, myself.
Remember, a self proclaimed Stoic Expert is still just someone interpreting an ancient philosophy.
What makes one interpretation more valid?
If you follow someones interpretation and it makes you miserable, it’s not successful in helping you.
I might not be following 100% “true” Stoicism, but I have done a lot of reading and this is what works for me.
In my mind, that is 100% true to the ideals of Stoicism.
I think by using the words of the ancient Stoics, you could (and Fisher does) claim that one is more accurate. How important is that? I’m not sure. I’d love to hear a conversation between Fisher and one of the Moderns. I have to do some looking…seems like something along those lines should be out there.
This conversation has given me a lot to think about. A big, deep, rabbit hole I look forward to diving into.
Give that podcast episode I mention above a listen. It’s interesting.
I will listen to it on my Monday run.
#metoo, thanks.
Going to change the oil in my truck now.
Been watching Reacher on Amazon. I assumed they’d mess it up, but it’s actually pretty good.
The Reacher character is very stoic in many ways.
I enjoyed it very much, but I’d say more autistic than stoic.
Somewhere on the spectrum.
Somewhere between Tome Cruise and Dustin Hoffman.
“I’m a very good driver.”
Roscoe nods.
Very cool cover by the Dead South. Hadn’t heard it before.
Best YouTube comment: “I dont always listen to the Dead South cover the doors, but when I do… so do my neighbors’
This is a nice series. Thanks for putting it together every week.
Glad you like it.
Stoicism produces a society of people who are second and content to be second.
FIRST OUT WITH YOUR COCK OUT energy is what this world needs more of.
LOL
If I am grumpy from lack of sleep all day, it is easy to get angry after I get to work. If I have been angry at work, it is easy to be angry at my wife for no reason. It is easy for these moods to snowball. It is also true that if I am an i good mood at work, it is much easier to greet my wife with a smile when I get home. If I control my mood, it can snowball in a good way for me.
#metoo
“Diogenes of Sinope said we sell things of great value for things of very little, and vice versa.”
Perfectly encapsulates why all societies fall.
Don’t sell your morals for trifles.
Or your morels for truffles?
Amanita think about that one.
For any Glibs who joined up with the Tom Woods School of Life:
For various reasons I haven’t been able to engage with it at all since it started. What’s been your experience with it, and do you intend to continue with it? Has it been valuable to you?
The seminars are a little late for me because I’m in bed early. I watch them later. Not all of them are relevant, but they’re decent resources. I’m participating in the forum and the business group.
I’ll be going to the gathering in July in Orlando as well.
The resources seem to be growing, so I’m giving it time to develop. If asked if it were worth the money right now, I’d probably say no, but I think it’s going to be. People seem to be engaged and I’m making some connections on marketing and crypto that are of use to me.
The seminars I’ve seen have been a bit basic for me. Not much there for me to learn.
I hang around the forums and the MeWe group occasionally.
I think it might grow into something I’ll find of value. If I had to renew now, I’d be hard pressed to do it. We’ll see how it grows and evolves.
I won’t be at the in-person event. I forget what day it is, but I remember being a bit close to Porc Fest and FreedomFest. I’ll be roadtripping for FreedomFest. For Porc Fest, I won’t be at the whole event, just the weekend. Maybe I could squeeze in the in-person event, but that’s another road trip, so I’m out.
I haven’t figured out how to join the mewe group–I search for it and can’t find it. This catch-up is bullshit. I haven’t used any “social media” type stuff since 2013, so I’m pretty far behind in even the basic conventions of user interfaces for such apps. Any hints on how to find the group?
The group is intentionally hidden to public searches.
You send an e-mail with a link to your mewe user profile, then Woods sends you MeWe’s equivalent of facebook’s friend request (can’t remember what mewe called it). Once you accept (or maybe you are already connected to him and you don’t have to do that), then you receive an invitation to the group.
I don’t remember the e-mail address that you have to write to start the process. I have a vague memory it was in one of the early e-mails after joining the group.
I am already connected with him (did the e-mail thing early on) but still can’t find the group. I don’t think I ever got an invitation to join the group but will re-check my e-mails.
I think he’s going to dump the MeWe group in favor of the new website forums.
The forum is the direction things are going. I’ve heard rumblings of ditching the MeWe and adding a chat function to the forum.
That’s about where I am, but I am waiting to see where it goes.
So far, the biggest ROI has been the business Masterminds group and the forums. Despite Tom’s protestations, I can find just as good, if not better, content for free online. Contesting with 800 people to get a question in on a livestream isn’t exactly my idea of “premium access”.
From the SP thread:
Keep on doing what y’all have been doing!
Thank you for sharing that!
So glad to hear it. I am mailing off my can lid tomorrow as a show of support.
On that note, I am pleased to report that Mrs. JI completed her course of radiation and is now officially designated cancer-free!
Woohoo! Great news, ji!
That’s great news. I hope she’s holding up ok.
That’s awesome news.
Two shots of great news!
Good to hear. JI!
That is awesome news!
Very nice! That is wonderful news!
Hurrah!
?
Yay!
More good news!
Great news!
Wonderful news.
*celebratory gunfire*
Good news. My longest hospital stay was 11 days and that was most unpleasant. I cannot imagine what six weeks would be like.
Great to hear both SP news and ji’s news. Prayers will continue until morale improves.
May the treatment be as swift and as effective as possible.
I am a rock. People know that they will always be able to count on me to do what I do best.
Great news!
YES! Go SP!!!
Thanks for dropping this ray of sunshine in here, Tundra. I didn’t realize the SP thread was being updated
Yay!
Thanks. I missed that!
That’s good news. With luck things will continue to improve, and she’ll be employing rusty can lids again in short order.
Excellent news about SP and Mrs JI!
Thanks, Tundra!
Best news I’ve had all day! OM and JI, my hopes that the good things keep on comin’.
‘ I never had a plan for my life.’
Same here. I agree with all of that, including the fact that I seem better as a married man than single. Family gives structure to my life.
Does your wife watch terrible, trashy movies with you? Or is that your alone thing?
I know you are asking R.J., but I want to answer FIRST:
My wife has probably strined her eye stalks rolling her eyes at some of my movie choices and after My Name is Bruce, she won’t sit through any more B movies.
Ha!
I love getting my wife to watch Bruce Campbell stuff with me. The eye rolls are audible after the first few seconds. 😀
Seriously? With all the classic camp that has come out of Japan that’s just sad.
Sadly Hentai Kamen isn’t available for free streaming.
Plan? I try, but then life happens.
“Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans.”
Allen Saunders, 1957
Same boat here regarding family.
It’s something I always wanted and I think it helped structure things and constrain my options in someways, which ironically has lead to much greater success. Bringing that back to stoicism, if you’re not able to deny yourself, you’re not really in control, and this not free.
Boy, did I need this today. It helps when life kicks you in the taint.
Hope it helps a little?
“Bruised taint” just doesn’t have the same cachet as “bruised strawberry”
Have you tried Dr. Nick’s Taint Restorer™?
It is gary-goddamned-teed to leave your taint un-withered, un-bruised, supple, and smelling like a warm day in a Minnesoda pine forest.
Hope things turn around for you, Aloysious.
I once banged a woman so hard, I turned her taint into a t’isnt.
I suck at being a human being.
Words on paper can’t fix that.
Hey buddy, stop doing that!
But studying and reflecting on those words can…
It can take awhile, I read both The Daily Stoic and Meditations twice before I actually tried to apply the words to my life.
And then it took more time before I noticed real changes in my own behavior and self control.
Love the Dead South – some of the best country and Bluegrass is coming out of Canada (North Montana)
Palmetto State Daily deal.
$129
Ordered. Thanks for the tip!
Now that I live 15 minutes from a PSA, I pay more attention to that stuff. CWP class in a couple weeks. AR shopping in a month or two after paying off the absurd amount of money I owe Uncle Sam for earning too much last year.
If I recall you were dangerously close to losing your job for being unclean.
Has your employer relented?
Still not allowed in the HQ building but I can enter the labs and other buildings with no screening. New boss cool with me being remote most of the time. Seems covid has run its course. I’ll be back in the Garden State for meetings next week.
The unclean can’t enter my HQ either, but that is de Blasio’s fault and not my company’s.
However, now that Adams has said that athletes, but not sanitation workers can be unvaccinated I’m not sure what the rules are for employers.
Because, like you know, only something like 50% of both baseball teams are vaccinated and we don’t want to mess up opening day.
Sanitation workers are athletes. /Problem solved
“I ain’t an athlete, lady. I’m a baseball player” – John Kruk
I just found out today that my direct supervisor (based in Kansas) and the head of the facility here both got covid the week of our Christmas party. They think they got it at a Red Lobster since that was really the only place they were together and both tested positive around the same time.
I still have never been tested, and plan to keep it that way.
It sounds like they got off light for going to Red Lobster.
Heh.
Has this made the rounds? It is a good example of “own goal”.
Candace Owens Goes Viral With Response To New York Times Reporter’s Email Citing, Yup, The New York Times
https://www.dailywire.com/news/candace-owens-goes-viral-with-response-to-new-york-times-reporters-email-citing-yup-the-new-york-times
“This is why we need a ministry of truth. To hold these organization to account.”
/R’s
(actual ministry of truth will do just what it did in 1984)
Yes, Ukraine was a corrupt developing nation, but absolutely independent and sovereign.
However, now that Russia is warring upon it is a bastion of freedom and nothing else may be said about it.
Nuance is not allowed.
How the reality based community has fallen.
I think this is a great example of what we’re learning about Stoicism. You are supposed to have a set of values, a set of principles. Too many people outsource their values and principles to a political party, thinking that party has a set of values and principles. This is 100% proof that is wrong. A party or ideological group will just do whatever is expedient, even if it contradicts what they did just weeks or months ago.
Yup, self contradiction is de rigeur at this point.
I’ve always tried to be logically consistent with myself, I have never been able to convince myself of double think.
That might be part of why Stoicism resonates with me and apparently some others here.
Based.
I can hear the NYT reporter stomping his foot in protest from here. “That’s different!”
The editorial she cited in her response was 6 years old. If possible I would have tried to find something more recent.
That said it was an editorial position so I understand why she chose that one.
Was the Editorial after the coup?
If so, has anything changed since then?
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/01/opinion/ukraines-unyielding-corruption.html
Quick Google says the coup was 2014. So after.
That’s what I thought, but it won’t matter to the true believers.
I wonder who is paying for the WE STAND UNITED WITH UKRAINE billboards I see all over.
Klaus Schwab
Maybe, I looked today and there is no name or group listed on it.
Their reporting is written for stupid children. There has to be an evil bad guy in the narrative who battles the heroic good guys. They can’t show a make of Russia and the Ukraine and explain the issues from both sides.
Guess we found the Russian apologist.
Still would like to know how many Bolshoi ballerinas apologists get.
/asking for a friend
Yeah, I never heard a number on that!
Talk of logic and God always makes me think of this:
Yeah, a God that has to obey the laws of physics and logic isn’t supernatural, let alone omnipotent.
Aquinas delved deeply into aseity to cover this as I recall.
Just saw Thomas was released from the hospital.
See, there is a god.
So many disappointed ghouls.
I don’t remember the same joy when RBG went into the hospital from the “evil” Republicans, or am I misremembering?
Maybe some hopefulness, but I don’t recall outright joy, no.
If you didn’t light your RBG candle and hold a vigil, you were gunning for her.
I stayed at this hotel before the decided to do a ‘woke’ remodel
Ah, well – lots of hotels in DC.
Ghouls in different guise.
I see NY’s third senator is doing his usual.
The “Women’s March” – whatever that is – says something and all the MSM jump to attention and spread the word.
Interesting, that.
Because none of the “liberals” have ANY agenda.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that suddenly there were many news stories about his wife’s connection to 1/6 just when he went to the hospital. I think it was a deliberate pressure tactic.