A good reminder that some things which we take for granted are objects of fascination to others. Life has many such rich experiences if we could let ourselves see them.

My daughter sent me this. I thought it was cute.

This is what reading Xenophon does to you:

Paul Found When I shop for coats and bags, I look for Loeb-sized pockets.

Why You Should Stop Reading News fs.blog/2013/12/stop-r…

Trying to live out Marcus Aurelius' advice "not to busy myself about trifling things" (Med. 1.6).

A person can be both fully engaged and at peace. (M. Aur. Med. 1.8)

Do not hold the same views as the person who does you harm, or even wishes to harm you. Rather, see these judgments for what they truly are. (M. Aur. Med 4.11)

Difficulties need not penetrate to your soul but can remain external. All the things which you now see are changing and will not continue to exist as they are. The cosmos is constant change, and our lives are but a series of choices. (M. Aur. Med. 4.3)

2020 was the year where I kept saying, "I never thought I would see _____ in my lifetime." 2021 is shaping up to outdo 2020. What a time to be alive.

No excuse is ever needed to buy another Loeb (or two!).

The person who longs after some sort of lasting fame does not realize that each person who remembers them will soon be dead, as will they themselves. (M. Aur. Med. 4.19)

from Epictetus, Disc. Bk II

I’ve been offered a new teaching position. This one will allow me to teach more of the types of material that interest me.

Epictetus (2.19.28): It is one's serenity that distinguishes the true Stoic from those who merely put on the form of a philosopher. The latter speaks brave words but collapses under the weight (or threat) of hardship. "But, philosopher, tell me, why are you trembling?" (2.19.18)

Marcus Aurelius notes that he learned “Dignity without pretense [affectation].”

Odd account below but I must admit, I agree. Despite some good quotes, which we see often, I never found Marcus to be very profound or even to say too much of value. But your mileage may vary.