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The anonymity of the online world prompts us often times to represent ourselves as people who are "darker and edgier," than normal. The vastly incomprehensible nature of human emotion and rationalization makes it difficult to accurately describe ourselves. If you come to know me then it shall be by your own interpretation of my thoughts and feelings where ever they may be conceived. Instead, if you wish to know the kind of person I respect and would hope to become, then read the following.

"The school of Stoicism goes back thousands of years. It has always maintained rigid discipline of mind. It's purpose was to alleviate the pains of mental suffering by teaching people to understand that there are things within and outside of our control. To understand the motivations of others, know how they intend for us to react, and manage ourselves accordingly so that they do not take advantage of us. For if we allow ourselves to be manipulated,then we are slaves to their will. And though it is not a perfect philosophy of life, I believe it to be an honourable one. The following is an excerpt from a passage in "Encheiridion: The Manual for Living" (Author: Epictetus (Trans. by: George Long)

"Men are not disturbed by the things which happen, but by the opinions about the things: for example, death is nothing terrible, if it were, it would have seemed so to Socrates; for the opinion about death, that it is terrible, is the terrible thing. When, then, we are impeded or disturbed or grieved, let us never blame others, but ourselves, that is, our opinions. It is the act of an ill-instructed man to blame others for his own bad condition; it is the act of one who has begun to be instructed, to lay the blame on himself.; and the act of one whose instruction is completed, to neither blame another, nor himself."

These are the words of a man who was a slave. Epictetus, who through his wisdom, set himself apart from the rest of his peers, gained freedom(s) from those who were considered his superiors. In this way, he kept his dignity of person, gave others what they wanted, and got what he had wanted. Any other man would have rebelled, been broken, and still forced to submit to the whims of another.

Marcus Aurelius, last great Emperor of the Rome, was also a devout Stoic, as he detailed in his personal journal, printed long after his death as "Meditations," Once we learn, he said, to understand the world around us, we will not be so surprised or angered by things that occur naturally or outside of our control, but use to our advantage all that is in our control to better our lives, and the lives of others."

Happy Days Gentlemen/Ladies

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