5 Comments
User's avatar
Deborah Brasket's avatar

Thank you for this inspiring and tempering post. Those 4 turning points sound about right. History has always been cyclical.

This last quote reflects my beliefs too.

“You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”

— Marcus Aurelius

Expand full comment
Teague de La Plaine's avatar

Thank you. I have found stoicism (tempered with humanism) to be far more comforting and empowering than any other philosophy I have trialed (including existentialism, Taoism, and those clothed in religion like Christianity and Buddhism). Realizing how insignificant I am in the cosmos (and how easily I will be forgotten in a couple of generations) gives me the space to experience life how I want and to love completely the few people in my circle while also having care and interest in every human around me. Stoicism also encourages me to try and become the best version of myself through hard work. It does not make life seem unimportant at all (as some have tried to argue with me).

Expand full comment
Nica Waters's avatar

"We feel like the world is ending because part of us still believes it can be saved."

An interesting take.

Expand full comment
Teague de La Plaine's avatar

Maybe it’s just me?

Expand full comment
Nica Waters's avatar

I pendulum swing from hope to utter despair. Maybe if we didn't think it could be saved we wouldn't really care about it ending? Or is it that if we accepted that the world was ending, we'd just go about regular business without thinking about it.

I'd like to think it can still be saved. At least this 5 minutes I do.

Expand full comment