My Man Epictetus

A philosopher has helped me immensely as of late he was a 1st century slave in Rome by the name of Epictetus. I have been dabbling in Stoic Philosophy. I have read Plato, Socrates, Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, but the one that I relate most with is Epictetus.

He was a slave unable to control anything but himself. I know how that feels.  This world goes on, and I know the level of importance that I hold in it ZERO!!!  I accept that and live with it. I find it liberating for me to know I'm free of that junk. .  I recognize that there are people that propagate fears into others. When it is done to a child I have a problem with it. Childhood should be a time of joy and learning, and not fear.  To infect an innocent with the poison from the media is unfortunate, and irresponsible.  There are enough legitimate fears out there. There are legitimate troubles and concerns out there, but to feed fear into a child I find highly disappointing.  The thing I value most is courage, and feeding that poison to a child is not helping. A child needs to know that you are there with them you I will defend them until your last breath.  That would inspire confidence instead of fear.

How does this relate. Make a list of what you control. Better than that what do you not control.  Let’s see I can’t control the other people on I-10 on the way to and from work. I can’t control if my server goes down in the middle of the night. The short answer is that I cannot control anything outside my attitude and actions. Outside of that nothing is in your control. Based on ones finances what get paid (or not paid) is under our control.   Shiznet happens every day it isn't personal, as none of us among the 7Billion out there are that important (except to our loved ones). If we get hit by lightning. The world would not stop turning. To paraphrase the bible if it’s raining on you it’s raining on a group of people in that particular area be it a block city state or region both the “good and the bad”. I inferred this before there is one thing that you as a person have 100% control of. How you act, respond with anger or outbursts of uncontrolled rage, or not to react to a given set of circumstances. There are people and institutions that traffic in that nonsense getting people to respond in emotion one way or another sometimes this is for profit, sometimes for and agenda and sometimes just because they can.  The ultimate freedom is the freedom to choose how one expresses themselves in times of pain, or joy (or not to express one’s self)    No one can make you angry that is a choice. There is a group of people that believe that the world was created for them and when things go sideways they are looking to blame someone.   The choices you make at 18 can affect you until you pass from this earth.  To have a relationship or not have one. To study or not to. To take a job or not take a job have long lasting consequences.  Let me state this for the record.  LIFE IS NOT FAIR!  You can no more make someone love you, respect you, or have a positive opinion of who and what you are any more than I can command the weather.

Admiral James Stockdale said this as he was shot down and descending in his parachute over North Viet Nam in 1965 on his way to the Hanoi Hilton.

 “I’m leaving the world of technology and entering the world of Epictetus”

Finally

I will end with a couple of Quotes from my favorite stoic philosopher Epictetus

"There is only one way to happiness, and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will"

"Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens."

..."

My Man Epictetus

A philosopher has helped me immensely as of late he was a 1st century slave in Rome by the name of Epictetus. I have been Dabbling in Stoic Philosophy. I have read Plato, Socrates, Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, but the one that I relate most with is Epictetus.

He was a slave unable to control anything but himself. I know how that feels.  This world goes on, and I know the level of importance that I hold in it ZERO!!!  I accept that and live with it. I find it liberating for me to know I'm free of that junk. .  I recognize that there are people that propagate fears into others. When it is done to a child I have a problem with it. Childhood should be a time of joy and learning, and not fear.  To infect an innocent with the poison from the media is unfortunate, and irresponsible.  There are enough legitimate fears out there. There are legitimate troubles and concerns out there, but to feed fear into a child I find highly disappointing.  The thing I value most is courage, and feeding that poison to a child is not helping. A child needs to know that you are there with them you I will defend them until your last breath.  That would inspire confidence instead of fear.

How does this relate. Make a list of what you control. Better than that what do you not control.  Let’s see I can’t control the other people on I-10 on the way to and from work. I can’t control if my server goes down in the middle of the night. The short answer is that I cannot control anything outside my attitude and actions. Outside of that nothing is in your control. Based on ones finances what get paid (or not paid) is under our control.   Shiznet happens every day it isn't personal, as none of us among the 7Billion out there are that important (except to our loved ones). If we get hit by lightning. The world would not stop turning. To paraphrase the bible if it’s raining on you it’s raining on a group of people in that particular area be it a block city state or region both the “good and the bad”. I inferred this before there is one thing that you as a person have 100% control of. How you act, respond with anger or outbursts of uncontrolled rage, or not to react to a given set of circumstances. There are people and institutions that traffic in that nonsense getting people to respond in emotion one way or another sometimes this is for profit, sometimes for and agenda and sometimes just because they can.  The ultimate freedom is the freedom to choose how one expresses themselves in times of pain, or joy (or not to express one’s self)    No one can make you angry that is a choice. There is a group of people that believe that the world was created for them and when things go sideways they are looking to blame someone.   The choices you make at 18 can affect you until you pass from this earth.  To have a relationship or not have one. To study or not to. To take a job or not take a job have long lasting consequences.  Let me state this for the record.  LIFE IS NOT FAIR!  You can no more make someone love you, respect you, or have a positive opinion of who and what you are any more than I can command the weather.

Admiral James Stockdale said this as he was shot down and descending in his parachute over North Viet Nam in 1965 on his way to the Hanoi Hilton.

 “I’m leaving the world of technology and entering the world of Epictetus”

Finally

I will end with a couple of Quotes from my favorite stoic philosopher Epictetus

"There is only one way to happiness, and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will"

"Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens."

..."