I had a lovely weekend with DW and the kids: ups and downs with the kids, as expected, but two lovely days in the end.
Few things make it easier than being present and not having anything else in your mind (main one being work-related issues)...
Two reads caught my eye and made me think last week:
Suomalaisen's post about kids:
You know pain is part of the long-distance triathlon, right? So why is that particular pain or discomfort just part of the experience, something that is expected and 'the way it should be' and the discomfort or pain of raising children is a rock in your shoe, something that 'shouldn't be there'?
And his WOW moment:
For so long, for SO long, life was about achieving, about growing, becoming, perfecting.
Shit, that's the name of the wall we ourselves build around happyness!
From
Quadalupe's journal I read about Stoics, and after a bit of research I came upon Epictetus' Enchiridion.
Epictetus wrote:Some things are in our control and others not. Things in our control are opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever are our own actions. Things not in our control are body, property, reputation, command, and, in one word, whatever are not our own actions.
The things in our control are by nature free, unrestrained, unhindered; but those not in our control are weak, slavish, restrained, belonging to others. Remember, then, that if you suppose that things which are slavish by nature are also free, and that what belongs to others is your own, then you will be hindered. You will lament, you will be disturbed, and you will find fault both with gods and men. But if you suppose that only to be your own which is your own, and what belongs to others such as it really is, then no one will ever compel you or restrain you. Further, you will find fault with no one or accuse no one. You will do nothing against your will. No one will hurt you, you will have no enemies, and you not be harmed.
Aiming therefore at such great things, remember that you must not allow yourself to be carried, even with a slight tendency, towards the attainment of lesser things. Instead, you must entirely quit some things and for the present postpone the rest. But if you would both have these great things, along with power and riches, then you will not gain even the latter, because you aim at the former too: but you will absolutely fail of the former, by which alone happiness and freedom are achieved.
I have so much re-wiring to do...
His writing this more than 2.000 years ago in so different living circumstances makes me think we haven't learnt that much in self's understanding...
The fact that I didn't know about it (or it's trascendence) means either I didn't pay much attention to philosophy lessons back in my high school years, and/or the approach to philosophy in high school could be improved..
Consequence: this is going to be the first book I read (not being long and being free makes it easier
).
Weekly review:
- Check alternative route to work
done: no luck yet I'll be giving up this one by now...
- 10 minutes before heading home to reflect on work at the end of every day
almost did it one day
- Patch something // Fix something // Declutter something
nope I need to be more specific on this one
- A little meditation 2 days
one!!
- Exercice one day (at work if possible)
Nope, and I don't see that happening for the next weeks
Next week:
- 10 minutes before heading home to reflect on work at the end of every day
- A little meditation (>=5 min) 2 days
- Exercice: at least 3 times a day one minute of push-ups (or equivalent)
- Declutter bedside table papers + patch baby's sock (if DW didn't do it yet)
- Finish reading Epictetus Enchiridion