I am blogging everyday (or nearly everyday) on The Daily Stoic.
December 18 - On Being Remembered
The point of this stoic, I think, is that even if we are remembered it’s likely just a day. There are great people from history I’ve likely heard of. Others I probably don’t. If they are someone I know I likely will only think about them for a short time and move on. Being remembered is not something I aspire to. I will for a short time by those close to me and then I’ll fade like all people do.
December 19 - Give Thanks
Gratitude is something I strive for. It helps in less than ideal scenarios to look at the silver lining. Gratitude is a way to that. I try to say thank you at work at the conclusion of emails. I have gratitude for the work being done. No matter how small.
December 20 - Taking The Bite Out of It
A calm mind can help with tough situations. This can allow me to see clearly. Bagging groceries is a chaotic thing. It was my first job. It can quickly feel overwhelming. I usually calmed the mind though and look at bagging as a game of Tetris. I can allow it to speed me up or I can remain calm. Golfing can kick me in the mouth. Topping the ball. Undercutting the ball can be very frustrating. I’ve found that I need to remain calm because the next shot is just as important. If I allow it to dig at me I’ll make a bad shot. If I allow it to pressure on me I’ll make a bad shot. Instead I try to take each shot as an individual. There will be good shots and bad shots. Probably more bad shots.
December 21 - Get Active In Your Own Rescue
Take action on the things from the daily stoic. I started this book to help improve my life. I’m happy with the value I’ve gotten and intend to do it again for another year. The stoic talks about being a scholar and a solider. Essentially, take on the learning. I intend to do that. Posting on my blog will be a documented writing of progress.
December 22 - Control and Choice
This has been one of the key takeaways for me last year. I only have control over two things. My thoughts and choices. This has helped with previous frustrations and stress. This peaked last year at the start of the pandemic. I got very upset at the reaction. After a brief night of frustration I reset and saw the pandemic as an opportunity to practice this stoic.
December 23 - Education Is Freedom
Studying new ideas is freedom. This past year I’ve made more of an effort to read. I believe it’s helped me in life and work. I realized recently that even fiction can teach me something.
December 24 - Be Ruthless To The Things That Don’t Matter
I’ve never felt obligated to go do something. If I don’t want to, I won’t. Outside of family who I want to spend time and enjoy precious moments. This past year I worked on saying no to emotions. I practiced letting go. Especially when circumstances were out of my control. Traffic was a big one prior to the pandemic.
December 25 - The Big Three
Perception, action, and will are the overlapping disciplines of Stoicism. Control perceptions; direct action; and accept what’s outside of our will. It’s a pretty consistent them for the stoics. The last year I’ve become less stressed at work. Golf is a much more enjoyable game accepting these disciplines. The pandemic was much easier to accept and to look for the benefits.
Yesterday - Clarify Your Intentions
I’ve never been one for five year plans or having creating goals in general. I get them. I just find them hard to determine when things are going well. When we were struggling financial I set a goal to get over a certain dollar amount and a better place career wise. I accomplished all that in four years. Now I have the goal of spending more time with the family and working on golf. Work and my career is where I want it to be. Maybe those are the goals in the stoic.
Today - Where, Who, What, And Why
Last year, I didn’t know where to go with this stoic. Who am I? I think the stoic has helped me with that. I don’t have the same uncertainty I did last year. I feel like I’ve found myself and that I still need more work to do.