I really appreciated the sentiment and inspiration behind this post—it was exactly what I needed to read today. Your descriptions of savoring food and embracing life’s simple joys were especially vivid and moving. One small piece of feedback: most of the examples you gave came from a distinctly male perspective and lived experience. I found myself momentarily pulled out of the message when I read lines like adoring a female lover or putting on alcohol-free aftershave. It might be worth considering how to frame these moments in a way that feels more inclusive, especially since many of your readers, like myself, are female and really value your insights. Just a gentle thought—your voice resonates with so many, and making space for different perspectives and different readers could make it even more powerful. Thanks again for sharing this; I needed this reminder and inspiration!
I was stopping by to ask the same. I’m the only stoic I know and I’m smart enough to recognize the sentiment in the liminal space between the words, but adding in examples of the feminine view alongside the masculine or omitting either broadens the message.
I know stoicism is a male dominated philosophy online, and in many ways used incorrectly to justify bad behavior towards women. Adding in these elements could help welcome in a wider audience of both readers and the practice.
Stoicism is what it is. And that’s what makes it beautiful and universally applicable. If there is no ability to interpret and apply thusly, perhaps another choice may be the wiser one.
I’m greatly nurtured by moments of joy. Having been through many periods of the great discomfort of living with an arrhythmia, I can totally bliss out walking in the woods and savoring my heart beating in normal rhythm. The joy!
Moments of joy when my kitty joins me in my qi gong practice. She could even sense me writing this and knows it’s qi gong time!😹
This is an absolute wonderful, insightful and inspiring piece. I could read this over and over. I have learned so much from your posts, by the way. Thank you for being you!
Reading this post reminded me of being a young girl plunging from the high dive into the deep end of the pool…scary, yet invigorating and freeing as I felt the cold water encapsulate every nerve of my body. Flashback to the blood pounding in my head as I faced the depths of the pool get closer and closer. But then my arms pushing against the water while I struggled to get back to the surface. And the instant my face cleared the water and I was breathing again. I did it!
Thank you for your essay. It reminded me of my own experience: for a while I was a chaplain in a large urban hospital. I remember waiting in 'the room' for the family to arrive to receive the news about their loved one. A chaplain is the buffer between the dying, the traumatized family and the medical team with the bad news. Often all I could offer was a hand to hold, a shoulder to cry on, an ear to receive the pleas and the rage. It is a privilege afforded to few... yet it takes a toll on one's soul. We have the honor in living in a time that miracles can occur (life saving surgery), and yet the inevitable is always hovering in the background. So it goes. Thank you. again.
To love oneself as one does others. To show the compassion and care to oneself that one does another. There is a counter to this: one often does for others that one cannot do for the self. Turning that half around is key to growth.
This was exactly what I needed to read today. There had been a few setbacks in my week and feeling tired influenced me to treat them like a big misfortune rather than take things in stride. Really helpful post. Thank you 😊
It’s taken me 60 years to solve the conundrum of why my life wasn’t evolving as promised, meaning as we dream of it as children. Why if I studied hard and earned full scholarships was I not happy at college, why when I turned from an ugly duckling to a charming princess did no prince come my way, why when I always tried to be nice, warm, caring, funny did none of my friendships develop. As my dreams were in actuality coming true, I felt a detachment from the feelings that should have come with them; joy, excitement, fun, gratitude, accomplishment. And over time I lost them all and still wondered when I would ‘feel’ happy, fortunate, empathetic, loving. I waited in lonely dorm rooms, in a marriage where only my name changed, in a career where my all was never enough but scorned by many. Why was the world outside me not matching up to the me I felt I projected. Because somehow the disconnect between how I perceived what I projected and how it was received became a chasm of loss. Whatever caused me to create projections to gain control over fear, self-doubt, and insecurity would make for a Psyc 401 text. It’s been an exhausting, sad, and often tragic journey which appeared to others as magical. And so what strikes me as such a pointless journey has its relevance and value in the endurance it took to survive such a duality. At 72, I no longer blame life for playing a shill game on me. I am who I am and if I know myself to be kind, compassionate, caring and loving then I am who I am and no one’s disillusionment is of any value to me.
Thank you for this post. It's full of such precious wisdom. The realization that prevailed was the fact that we can indeed slow down time. That we can rise above the busy-ness. And it all begins with intention. Such a powerful, and freeing, truth.
I really appreciated the sentiment and inspiration behind this post—it was exactly what I needed to read today. Your descriptions of savoring food and embracing life’s simple joys were especially vivid and moving. One small piece of feedback: most of the examples you gave came from a distinctly male perspective and lived experience. I found myself momentarily pulled out of the message when I read lines like adoring a female lover or putting on alcohol-free aftershave. It might be worth considering how to frame these moments in a way that feels more inclusive, especially since many of your readers, like myself, are female and really value your insights. Just a gentle thought—your voice resonates with so many, and making space for different perspectives and different readers could make it even more powerful. Thanks again for sharing this; I needed this reminder and inspiration!
Thank you for the feedback Mare. I’ll consider it 🥂
I was stopping by to ask the same. I’m the only stoic I know and I’m smart enough to recognize the sentiment in the liminal space between the words, but adding in examples of the feminine view alongside the masculine or omitting either broadens the message.
I know stoicism is a male dominated philosophy online, and in many ways used incorrectly to justify bad behavior towards women. Adding in these elements could help welcome in a wider audience of both readers and the practice.
Stoicism is what it is. And that’s what makes it beautiful and universally applicable. If there is no ability to interpret and apply thusly, perhaps another choice may be the wiser one.
I’m greatly nurtured by moments of joy. Having been through many periods of the great discomfort of living with an arrhythmia, I can totally bliss out walking in the woods and savoring my heart beating in normal rhythm. The joy!
Moments of joy when my kitty joins me in my qi gong practice. She could even sense me writing this and knows it’s qi gong time!😹
Thank you for the wise words.🙏🏻
This is an absolute wonderful, insightful and inspiring piece. I could read this over and over. I have learned so much from your posts, by the way. Thank you for being you!
Thank you for your kind words! 🥂
Reading this post reminded me of being a young girl plunging from the high dive into the deep end of the pool…scary, yet invigorating and freeing as I felt the cold water encapsulate every nerve of my body. Flashback to the blood pounding in my head as I faced the depths of the pool get closer and closer. But then my arms pushing against the water while I struggled to get back to the surface. And the instant my face cleared the water and I was breathing again. I did it!
You did it!
Haha, wow! That was so courageous of you. It’s exactly how we should live life.
I appreciate the kind words Kat.
Thank you for your essay. It reminded me of my own experience: for a while I was a chaplain in a large urban hospital. I remember waiting in 'the room' for the family to arrive to receive the news about their loved one. A chaplain is the buffer between the dying, the traumatized family and the medical team with the bad news. Often all I could offer was a hand to hold, a shoulder to cry on, an ear to receive the pleas and the rage. It is a privilege afforded to few... yet it takes a toll on one's soul. We have the honor in living in a time that miracles can occur (life saving surgery), and yet the inevitable is always hovering in the background. So it goes. Thank you. again.
Such a refreshingly beautiful piece. So inspiring🫶🏽
Thank you GingerAle :)🥂 4L
So inspiring.. It encourages a smile, how life should be lived.
I’m glad it made you smile :)🥂
Your words should always encourage a smile.. To all who follow their heart, is to trust in your worth. 🕊️❤️🕊️
To love oneself as one does others. To show the compassion and care to oneself that one does another. There is a counter to this: one often does for others that one cannot do for the self. Turning that half around is key to growth.
Couldn't agree more, and stirring written. Let us enjoy the life we have to the full, instead of yearning for that which we have not.
Medical school an time to hit the beach and the club...props to this or the richness of imagination!
This was exactly what I needed to read today. There had been a few setbacks in my week and feeling tired influenced me to treat them like a big misfortune rather than take things in stride. Really helpful post. Thank you 😊
Or as Shane MacGowan once wrote: 'There's nothing ever gained by a wet thing called a tear.'
(Pogues, "Streams of Whiskey")
Theres an old saying. Money doesn't buy happiness, but I'd rather do my crying in a Ferrari.
Only joking. Your words are always wonderful.
this is the best piece on stoicism i have ever read
thanks for this
Thank you. A helpful article.❤️
It’s taken me 60 years to solve the conundrum of why my life wasn’t evolving as promised, meaning as we dream of it as children. Why if I studied hard and earned full scholarships was I not happy at college, why when I turned from an ugly duckling to a charming princess did no prince come my way, why when I always tried to be nice, warm, caring, funny did none of my friendships develop. As my dreams were in actuality coming true, I felt a detachment from the feelings that should have come with them; joy, excitement, fun, gratitude, accomplishment. And over time I lost them all and still wondered when I would ‘feel’ happy, fortunate, empathetic, loving. I waited in lonely dorm rooms, in a marriage where only my name changed, in a career where my all was never enough but scorned by many. Why was the world outside me not matching up to the me I felt I projected. Because somehow the disconnect between how I perceived what I projected and how it was received became a chasm of loss. Whatever caused me to create projections to gain control over fear, self-doubt, and insecurity would make for a Psyc 401 text. It’s been an exhausting, sad, and often tragic journey which appeared to others as magical. And so what strikes me as such a pointless journey has its relevance and value in the endurance it took to survive such a duality. At 72, I no longer blame life for playing a shill game on me. I am who I am and if I know myself to be kind, compassionate, caring and loving then I am who I am and no one’s disillusionment is of any value to me.
Thank you for this post. It's full of such precious wisdom. The realization that prevailed was the fact that we can indeed slow down time. That we can rise above the busy-ness. And it all begins with intention. Such a powerful, and freeing, truth.