Stoicism

Stoicism is an ancient Greek philosophy that teaches the cultivation of inner peace, virtue, and resilience by focusing only on what we can control and accepting what we cannot. Founded by Zeno of Citium and later advanced by thinkers like Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius, Stoicism emphasizes reason, ethical living, and emotional discipline. Rather than suppressing emotion, Stoicism encourages facing life’s challenges with clarity, courage, and composure—seeing obstacles as opportunities for growth and living in alignment with one’s values regardless of circumstance.

The Obstacle Is the Way: Facing the Future When the Road Changes

May 30, 2025May 30, 2025 B. John 21 Views 0 Comments Stoics, Stoicism, Job, Obstacles, Challenges, Encouragement

So this is where I stand: older, yes, but not done. Not stuck. Just at the next bend in the road. It’s not the one I expected. But I’m learning, little by little, to see it not as a detour but as a direction. If you’re in a similar place, wondering if you’re too late, too tired, too tangled in the “should haves,” let me offer this: You are not behind. You are not disqualified. You are standing right where your next beginning begins. “The obstacle is the way.”

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The Gift of Memento Mori

May 28, 2025May 30, 2025 B. John 32 Views 0 Comments Friends, Family, life, Friendship, Memento Mori

That phrase—Memento Mori—means “remember that you must die.” It’s an old Stoic meditation, not meant to provoke dread but to awaken us… and remind us not to sleepwalk through our lives. The Stoic philosopher Seneca put it this way: “Let us prepare our minds as if we’d come to the very end of life. Let us postpone nothing.”