June 7th Reading from The Daily Stoic (Round 2) - Finding the Right Mentors

"We like to say that we don't get to choose our parents, that they were given by chance - yet  we can truly choose whose children we'd like to be."

~ Seneca, On the Brevity of Life, 15.3a

June 6th Reading from The Daily Stoic (Round 2) - When To Stick And When To Quit

"Think of those who, not by fault of inconsistency but by lack of effort, are too unstable to live as they wish, but only live as they have begun."

~ Seneca, On Tranquility of Mind, 2.6b

June 5th Reading from The Daily Stoic (Round 2) - Blow Your Own Nose

"We cry to God Almighty, how can we escape this agony? Fool, don't you have hands? Or could it be God forgot to give you a pair? Sit and pray your nose doesn't run! Or rather, just wipe your nose and stop seeking a scapegoat."

~ Epictetus, Discourses, 2.16.13

I often fear that Stoicism is rather ableist. I mean, telling people with biochemical mental health issues to "just think differently" is pretty ableist - Stoicism works well for people in peak mental condition, but then, they don't need it. "Did God forget to give you a pair of hands?" Well, a friend of mine was born with only one hand, so yeah, I guess he did. Another close friend was born with only one leg. It happens.

Now, it's not really literally hands Epictetus is talking about, here. He means, "resources you can use to solve your problems," just as "runny noses" isn't the huge life problem here. His point is: "Got a problem? Well, yes, you could just whine about it. But how about taking stock of what resources you have to deal with the problem yourself? And remembering that according to Stoics, it's not even a real problem unless you decide that it is?"

June 4th Reading from The Daily Stoic (Round 2) - This Is What We're Here For

"Why then are we offended? Who do we complain? This is what we're here for!"

~ Seneca, On Providence, 5.7b-8

I'm feeling this more than ever. We are here to do the work of human beings, to do the work of humanity. No one said it would be easy. No one said  it would be fair. Why are we offended? Why do we complain? We are not obligated to complete the great work, but we are required to carry it forward and do what we can. Now more than ever that ought to be clear to all!

June 3rd Reading from The Daily Stoic (Round 2) - It Is Well To Be Flexible

"He can't be in the military? Let him seek public office. Must he live in the private sector? Let him be a spokesperson. Is he condemned to silence? Let him aid his fellow citizens by silent public witness. Is it dangerous to enter the Forum? Let him display himself, in private homes, at public events and gatherings, as a good associate, a faithful friend, and moderate tablemate. Has he lost the duties of a citizen? Let him exercise those of a human being."

~ Seneca, On Tranquility of Mind, 4.3

June 2nd Reading from The Daily Stoic (Round 2) - Plato's View

"How beautifully Plato put it. Whenever you want to talk about people, it's best to take a bird's-eye view and see everything all at once - of gatherings, armies, farms, weddings and divorces, births and deaths, noisy courtrooms or silent spaces, every foreign people, holidays, memorials, markets - all blended together and arranged in a pairing of opposites."

~ Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 7.48

June 1st Reading from The Daily Stoic (Round 2) - Always Have A Mental Reverse Clause

"Indeed, no one can thwart the purposes of your mind - for they can't be touched by fire, steel, tyranny, slander, or anything."

~ Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 8.41

Happy Kalends of Iunius!