Happy Sunday Friends! Here is 1 quote I’m musing, 2 Ideas, 3 of my favorite things from the week, and 1 question. If you find it useful or interesting, please feel free to forward this along to some friends or others!

-e

One Quote I’m Musing

“As each day arises, welcome it as the very best day of all, and make it your own possession.”

-Seneca

Be it diet, travel, entertainment, or long-distance relationships, the internet! In our modern age, we have much more work and distractions than our predecessors did (or could have imagined). Clearly, we have thrived as a species, but this hasn’t clearly benefited us as people. With so many “things” fighting for our attention; so many options, we struggle with decision, with focus, most of all with following or blazing our paths.

Known as the Paradox of Choice, our physiology hasn’t kept pace with our technological and societal advances. We are overwhelmed with the abundance of information available to us. Like our ancestors, when overwhelmed with a difficult choice, the default choice becomes status quo.

Now, more than ever we have a need for purposeful action. We should take care that we don’t simply react. We act, we live, intentionally. The hours may feel long, but the days disappear so very fast. Make them count.

Two Ideas From Me

Create an intrinsic place of control. It’s so easy today to get frustrated, to get overwhelmed. Our marvels and advancements have given us much in the way of comfort. So much so that the slightest inconvenience; slow internet, a perceived snub or slight, provokes outrage. We have no control over much of what happens in life. Focusing on what is in our control (our emotions, our mood, our thoughts) ensures that we maintain our internal state rather than give it up to external factors.
Nothing is Forever. In the grand play of things, likely nothing of what you or I achieve will last more than a couple generations. Edison, Newton, Rusticus. All have been relegated to distant memory (if at all). Brought up occasionally by a charismatic researcher for a brief reminder. What then matters? To live a good life and that is an immense achievement in itself.

Three Favorite Things From Others

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” - Soren Kierkegaard
“Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend” - Theophrastus
Bardcore. I discovered this medieval-style recreation of modern music genre. And I love it. (Pumped up Kicks, Creep, Summertime Sadness)

One Question

Put your last week up for review. How in control did you feel? How much was reaction to stimulus vice focused, intentional, and controlled action?

Have a wonderful week,

I’ll see you Sunday.
-e