The people on the front lines deal with circumstances outside my experience and help me accept the differences.
The ever changing lives of people help me stay informed and connect with the Ebola effected community.
News is important and helps to put a face on problems out of my day to day routine.
I want to stay open minded and learn about Ebola.
Hot water, blade, a lather of soap, hand full of water to rinse and towel dry, a bracer…
Get on with getting dressed and the rest.
Everyday, same time,same place or at least…same way.
If I were this ancient classic philosopher,
I would read and write, travel and explore and so much more.
I would study and research, listen and learn.
My goal would be to do no harm and to live the best I could within my own circumstances.
I would study psychology, anthropology, sociology and mathematics, physics and chemistry.
I would hike and bike and do all sorts of exercise.
I would spend time giving back in community.
If I were Epictetus, I would have done so much more,
Because I can read and write and study from hundreds of years of experience and because I was not a slave or lame or limited by my times and place in the world.
I quit many bad habits and I have been whittling down my TV addiction.
How I Overcame TV Addiction, Reclaimed My Life and Gained Two Months Per Year
What is stopping me?
I think I will try and replace it with an audiobook while I prepare for work and bed.
I can turn off the audiobook when I read, write and study.
My goal is to read, write, study, research, exercise and sleep more.
It will be nice to be with people more and get out of the house more often.
I quit T.V. for 15 years but my purpose was less defined than now.
It is truly something I am willing to give up for life like smoking, booze and sugar!
In this dialogue, the father of philosophy attempts to help me understand, in my own thoughts, the ‘miraculous gift’. Socrates has listened to me my whole life, he knows it is vital to awaken a spirit of living in all those who are willing and able. For my part, the spirit is willing but the brain I have built is still ‘a brick short of a load’.
Socrates: Good evening Michael, how you doing?
Michael: If life was any better, I’d have to give you my left…anything you want Soc.
S: What is important to you?
M: My sister, mom, coworker, my writing, living the best I can each day. All I can care about.
S: Michael, you make a lot of mistakes like watching TV, not watching your health, avoiding work and writing. When will you ever learn?
M: You know I try my best.
S: Do I? I see you make choices that reflect, poor judgement and better and good judgement.
M: Yes, are we not all trying our best?
S: Far from it. We or I can do better.
M: I need to do better, life is so short.
S: What are you saying? Do you have an answer worth discussing?
M: The stoic said it is better to stop acting on desire until you make a dent on aversion.
S: Charming, your desires are a woman, yet they are an aversion, like your writing, work and a few other things in your life.
M: True, I am willing to risk more or to go without what I need until I can afford to do it. I need my job to pay my way in society. I am willing to give up everything to live the ‘good life’.
S: I believe you. And I think you are on the right track. Good life!
Feeling is an important part of a reaction.
Feeling ‘down’, at your best, will produce a small reaction.
If you have excellent experience, mental health and can navigate through life with care, you probably live the ‘good life’.
Feeling ‘up’, at your best, will produce a small reaction.
Learning to decide what to do with your reaction will improve your’s and other’s well being.
Read, write, learn…
It is hard to study.
To find enough energy after a day’s work.
To balance a load that will make it easier to lift.
Read what you need rather than things that only make you feel good.
This can be extended to things I do.
I am not in school.
I am living ‘the good life’
To use this body is a good experience and to balance the work, exercise and play will help me reach this goal.
Much experience will complete this job.
Always to learn to be a better person.
Sometimes, a true statement acts as a reminder as to a true state of mind.
We all do it, ‘fake it till we make it’.
It helps short term, to stay aware of a bad mood and behave like normal to prevent creating a mess. For example, yelling at someone who deserves it, but we need to tolerate (like a troublemaker co-human).
Long term the ‘grumpy Mike’, may need more serious action like 8 hours sleep.
A janitor walks towards the office he will clean.
J: That’s okay.
FA: Na, you got your hands full.
They each smile as the Financial Advisor holds the door for him.
Growing up strong, among good young men.
Getting an education with pride and good standing.
Meeting and marrying the woman of your dreams , to build a family with children and a career to pay off all the expenses.
To retire in comfort and good health and see your children follow in your footsteps.
If and when you fail, compromise, try your damnedest to live ‘the good life’.