Glibertarians | Daily Stoic Week 30

The Daily Stoic

The Practicing Stoic

Meditations

How to Be a Stoic

If you have anger issues, this one is a great tool (h/t mindyourbusiness)

Disclaimer: I’m not your Supervisor. These are my opinions after reading through these books a few times.

 

July 30

“Trust me, real joy is a serious thing. Do you think someone can, in the charming expression, blithely dismiss death with an easy disposition? Or swing open the door to poverty, keep pleasures in check, or meditate on the endurance of suffering? The one who is comfortable with turning these thoughts over is truly full of joy, but hardly cheerful. It’s exactly such a joy that I would wish for you to possess, for it will never run dry once you’ve laid claim to its source.”
—SENECA, MORAL LETTERS, 23.4

Everything here is a worthy goal, and in the abstract, I am doing most of these things. I am not fully in control of myself and this is where most of my stress comes from. I am definitely “truly full of joy, but hardly cheerful”. My wife has been told by her friends that they think I don’t like them, or asked if I am angry all the time. They seem to not believe it when she says that I am happy or trying to explain that I do like them, I just am not much for small talk.

 

July 31

“How disgraceful is the lawyer whose dying breath passes while at court, at an advanced age, pleading for unknown litigants and still seeking the approval of ignorant spectators.”
—SENECA, ON THE BREVITY OF LIFE, 20.2

Life is short, and work is important. I need to balance these things. I enjoy my job, but have no desire to be doing it as an old man. I am currently planning on working until I’m 60. We shall see if that is feasible with the economy, but I still have a back up of becoming a mechanic if necessary.

 

August 1

“That cucumber is bitter, so toss it out! There are thorns on the path, then keep away! Enough said. Why ponder the existence of nuisance? Such thinking would make you a laughing-stock to the true student of Nature, just as a carpenter or cobbler would laugh if you pointed out the sawdust and chips on the floors of their shops. Yet while those shopkeepers have dustbins for disposal, Nature has no need of them.”
—MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 8.50

Don’t seek pain for no gain. I need to remember this as I go on vacation with my mom. She is a true believer in Dr. Truth Science Fauci. I will do my best to avoid talking about the COVID stupidity. My wife is stressing herself out because she is concerned about my ability to do this.

 

August 2

“Indeed, how could exile be an obstacle to a person’s own cultivation, or to attaining virtue when no one has ever been cut off from learning or practicing what is needed by exile?”
—MUSONIUS RUFUS, LECTURES, 9.37.30–31, 9.39.1

It doesn’t matter what is going on around me, I still have the ability to look inward and improve my mentality about external circumstances. I need to remember this dealing with other people and not allow things outside of my control to ruin my peace of mind.

 

August 3

“At this moment you aren’t on a journey, but wandering about, being driven from place to place, even though what you seek—to live well—is found in all places. Is there any place more full of confusion than the Forum? Yet even there you can live at peace, if needed.”
—SENECA, MORAL LETTERS, 28.5b–6a

Did they know I was going on vacation when they wrote this? I am really looking forward to being on the lake and hanging out with my brothers. If my mom doesn’t press me we have no issues. If she says “I follow the science” it will be difficult to ignore, but I will “endeavor to persevere”.

 

August 4

“You must stop blaming God, and not blame any person. You must completely control your desire and shift your avoidance to what lies within your reasoned choice. You must no longer feel anger, resentment, envy, or regret.”
—EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 3.22.13

This is one of the basic tenets of Stoicism. All of my issues that are worth fighting with are caused by my internal desire to control external things. As a non religious person, it is difficult to blame God for anything. If I slip up and get in an argument, it won’t be my mom’s fault, it will be mine. It is difficult not to feel anger, but I am trying.

 

August 5

“Silence is a lesson learned from the many sufferings of life.”
—SENECA, THYESTES, 309

I am a usually quiet person(those who have met me can attest), and excessive talking  never been something I enjoyed. I don’t try to add commentary to discussions going on around me. Yesterday at a co-worker’s going away lunch, he told me, “You don’t talk much, but you’re a good dude”.  I think that is kind of what I am going for. I have met people that love to talk and usually it’s because they love themselves and want you to feel the same way.

 

— • —

 

Music this week is some old style country. New country is just pop music with a bit of a southern drawl, and it is horrible.

Ray Scott – My Kind Of Music (Video) – YouTube

I’ve told my wife if she ever leaves me, I could see this happening to me. Then I beg her not to go.

 

Ray Scott – Ain’t Always Thirsty (Official Music Video) – YouTube

The video captures the mood of this song perfectly.

 

Ray Scott – Drinkin’ Beer – Official Music Video – YouTube

Still a hobby of mine, just not as much as I used to.