I was just born this way.” “I never learned anything diferent.” “My parents set a terrible example.”“Everyone else does it.” What are these? Excuses that people use to justify staying as they are instead ofstriving to become beter.

Of course it’s possible to curb our arrogance, control our anger, and be a caring person. How do youthink others do it? Certainly their parents weren’t perfect; they didn’t come out of the womb incapable of ego or imune to temptation. They worked on it. They made it a priority. They solved it like they wouldsolve any other problem: by dedicating themselves to finding a solution, making incremental progressuntil they did.

They became who they are. Just like you can.

In 1966 when students of addis ababa university started riot emperor send his troops trying to silence them. Even killing their leaders on the street. The riot didn't die but as a result the emperor collapsed. Then again students of addis ababa university started a riot to throw the derg regim. Former prime minister melese zenawi was one of them look the derg regim fall.

THE OBSTACLE IS THE WAY

“While it’s true that someone can impede our actions, they can’t impede our intentions and ouratitudes, which have the power of being conditional and adaptable. For the mind adapts andconverts any obstacle to its action into a means of achieving it. That which is an impediment toaction is turned to advance action. The obstacle on the path becomes the way.”
—MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 5.20

Today, things will happen that will be contrary to your plans. If not today, then certainly tomorrow. As a result of these obstacles, you will not be able to do what you planed. This is not as bad as it seems, because your mind is infinitely elastic and adaptable.
You have the power to use the Stoic exercise of turning obstacles upside down, which takes one negative circumstance and uses it as an opportunity topractice an unintended virtue or form of excellence.

If something prevents you from geting to your destination on time, then this is a chance to practice patience.

If an employee makes an expensive mistake, this is a chance to teach a valuable lesson.

If a computer glitch erases your work, it’s a chance to start over with a clean slate.

If someone hurts you, it’s a chance to practice forgiveness.

If something is hard, it is a chance to get stronger.

Try this line of thinking and see whether there is a situation in which one could not find some virtue topractice or derive some benefit.
There isn’t one. Every impediment can advance action in some form or another.

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Man is sometimes extraordinarily, passionately, in love with suffering, and that is a fact.

- Fyodor Dostoevsky🖤📚

Is this true though🤔🤔

DO YOUR JOB
“Whatever anyone does or says, for my part I’m bound to the good. In the same way an emerald
or gold or purple might always proclaim: ‘whatever anyone does or says, I must be what I am
and show my true colors.’”
—MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 7.15

The Stoics believed that every person, animal, and thing has a purpose or a place in nature. Even in ancient Greek and Roman times, they vaguely understood that the world was composed of millions of tiny atoms. It was this idea—this sense of an interconnected cosmos—that underpinned their sense that every person and every action was part of a larger system. Everyone had a job—a specific duty. Even people who did bad things—they were doing their job of being evil because evil is a part of life.

The most critical part of this system was the belief that you, the student who has sought out Stoicism, have the most important job: to be good! To be wise. “To remain the person that philosophy wished to make us.” Do your job today.

Whatever happens, whatever other people’s jobs happen to be, do yours. Be good.

ON DUTY AND CIRCUMSTANCE
“Never shirk the proper dispatch of your duty, no matter if you are freezing or hot, groggy or well-rested, vilified or praised, not even if dying or pressed by other demands. Even dying is one of the important assignments of life and, in this as in all else, make the most of your resources to do well the duty at hand.”
—MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 6.2

Will this make me rich? Will people be impressed? How hard do I need to try? How long will this take? What’s in it for me? Should I do this other thing instead? These are the questions we ask ourselves amid the day’s opportunities and obligations. Marcus Aurelius had many responsibilities, as those who hold executive power do. He judged cases, heard appeals, sent troops into battle, appointed administrators, approved budgets. A lot rode on his choices and actions. Should he do this or that? What about this concern or that concern? When would he get to enjoy himself?

The simple reminder above was a way to cut through the Gordian knot of incentives, complaints, fears, and competing interests. It’s what we must use to decide what to do in each and every phase of life. Morality can be complicated—but the right thing is usually clear and intuitive enough to feel in our gut.

Our duty is rarely easy, but it is important. It’s also usually the harder choice. But we must do it.

Two GOATS.

CR7 x 45/47

White house posted this

Good to see them Happy.

TURN HAVE TO INTO GET TO
“The task of a philosopher: we should bring our will into harmony with whatever happens, so that nothing happens against our will and nothing that we wish for fails to happen.”
—EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 2.14.7

Along To-Do list seems intimidating and burdensome—all these things we have to do in the course of a day or a week. But a Get To Do list sounds like a privilege—all the things we’re excited about the opportunity to experience. This isn’t just semantic playing. It is a central facet of the philosopher’s worldview. Today, don’t try to impose your will on the world.

Instead see yourself as fortunate to receive and respond to the will in the world. Stuck in traffic? A few wonderful minutes to relax and sit. Your car broke down after idling for so long? Ah, what a nice nudge to take a long walk the rest of the way.
A swerving car driven by a distracted,cell-phone-wielding idiot nearly hit you as you were walking and soaked you head to toe with muddy water? What a reminder about how precarious our existence is and how silly it is to get upset about something as trivial as being late or having trouble with your commute! Kidding aside, it might not seem like it makes a big difference to see life as something you have to do versus get to do, but there is. A huge, magnificent difference.

Shabbat Shalom y'all.
Gonna have me time around beherawi theater on shabbat.