We’ve got a lot cooking in the pot right now, the greenhouse and chicken coop have been ordered, now I’ll have to read up about the delivery process. Maybe look into getting someone to make a compact pad for the greenhouse. Yesterday I started reading the information for the seed sheet garden we’ll be starting, I also found someone who will basically start a garden area for you, so I’m going to see about doing that as well and my queen found a company that does forest mulching. Maybe we will get some of the fallen trees on our property turned into mulch for future projects. Last night I was working on my future t-shirt design and made some good progress on that. When I planted grape vines in the Fall they came with a product call blue shields, it’s basically a tube of blue plastic that goes around the plant and a stack, blue probably to let light through and it should keep deer from eating the baby leaves. Once this cold front is over I’ll be planting my tropical trees in the ground. Here’s Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations.
Meditations 15
The meditations are starting to get longer and in my book there’s a sort of verse number to the side that might be useful in the future. This one had 3 verses.
“Self-mastery” that’s what we work on at Wrecking and Rapping, keep our minds and tongues sharp, then learn how and when to wield them.
“Immune to any passing whim” this is a pillar in stoicism that emotions will come and go, don’t let them lead you into judgements with lasting consequences.
“Good cheer in all circumstances, including illness” a couple years back I got real sick, I think it was covid, then became bronchitis. During that time my queen understood I was sick, but said I didn’t have to be mean. That’s when I remembered a line I read while saying the rosary, “dignity in suffering”. If things are bad for you, there’s no reason to spread that unhappiness.
“Energy for what needs to be done” recognize the important tasks in life, an A,B,C hierarchy. What needs to be done, what we’d like to do, and if there’s time.
“Well-intentioned in all that he did” last week I talked about not exaggerating in my speech or leading people on with a lie, that’s part of being well intentioned. Intending to always do what’s right to build trust in others that you are reliable.
“Proof against surprise or panic; in nothing either hurried or hesitant.” A lot of tenants to stoicism here, to be unmoved by good or bad. As Eminem said, “I don’t smile, I don’t frown, get too up or get too down. “ Being overwhelmed with surprise or panic can have a physical effect of shaking which can cause error in movement and error in judgement. The same will happen when being hurried, and being hesitant is dangerous, some situations call for decisive action. Delay can mean death.
“A forgiving and truthful nature” As with well intentioned, he’s building an empire, at the least we’re building social relationships. We need to forgive because others can’t be fearful of making a mistake, leading them to hide or be untruthful. The truth will set all of us free.
“Undeviating rectitude as a path chosen rather than enforced.” This is for the top of the pyramid. Being a leader means to lead, this addresses how one leads, enforced would mean beating others into submission to do your will. While leading is to make a decision, the others know you are well intentioned and truthful, so they willingly follow the path.
Here’s a long one, “the fact that no one would ever have thought himself belittled by him, or presumed to consider himself superior to him;” The leader does not talk down to subjects or act better than, we are all equal. A great leader is followed because they are doing good for the followers, not because he says so, or a belief the leader is born closer to God. Life is a journey of struggle, we all want to make it outta here alive. It’s not helpful to make others feel weak and like the lion and the mouse we never know who will be an asset.
Finally “A pleasant humour” a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.
Chris' Morning Pages 