Before reading my thoughts further, clear your mind of the common modern use of stoic (cold, emotionless). Instead think of “detaching from what is harmful” …maybe desire… or control. Letting go of control was important for me the last few months of tragedies and limited-interaction-holidays. The Stoic philosophy is resonating again with me as I try to honor my dad, connect with family and friends, find meaning, and live our best life.  Years ago I was reading and thinking often about one Stoic idea: Eudaemonic Happiness (vs Hedonic), which I can summarize as “living life well, a job well done.” I’ll put some thoughts / links about that below, but today is about Epictetus and control.

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Epictetus---“To achieve freedom and happiness, you need to grasp this basic truth: some things in life are under your control, and others are not."

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That sounds a lot like the Serenity prayer! Is it a strange relief to know that Humans have struggled for millennia? I guess it makes us feel better that we are not alone. Epictetus wrote  Momento Mori translated as ‘remember that you will die’, which sounds pretty harsh, but is meant to inspire… like Yolo or Carpe Diem.  The blog interestingly uses Momento Mori to join together Gratitude and Acceptance.  Is that unusual to connect these two – if not, where else?...hmmmm.

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So 2000 years ago, the stoics say “accept that you don’t have control and you get inner calm.”

...or maybe even tranquility or repose or quies from Latin;

.. or Ataraxia, ἀταραξία = literally ‘not disturbed’ in Greek  

Whatever language, it all sounds great to me…reduce anxiety and worry!

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I don’t have a tidy concluding thought…just open ended tangents below…and I’m ok with that. Serenity Now!

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 [ Edit day after posting ] : i re-read the Atlantic article and think i respect Epicureanism more than expected....so actually that's my next blog. followed by :

Next Blog topic: Gratitude

…for wonderful fathers, dads other’s envied 

…for freedom to choose (or illusion of such 😊)      

…for the privilege to serve, help others which brings immense joy (gaudium)

…for curiosity, wonder, Wikipedia, any new ideas we haven’t yet learned

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