Life On A B-I7

Day #263

It is unlikely that perpetual happiness will be the fate of more than a few persons. (That’s the unhappy view.) Frugality is the best course of action if happiness is truly desired.

Why?

The less you have to worry about in this life and the more thoughtfully you live your life, the better your chances of obtaining happiness.

So I’ve been told. I’m hoping there’s something to that.

Day #262

In a study conducted by Carroll University in Wisconsin, cat owners demonstrated higher intelligence than dog owners. Cat owners also scored higher on the non-conformity scale. On the downside, cat owners demonstrate less “liveliness” than dog owners, but they show more signs of being introverted and sensitive (which I consider a plus). For every 6 “dog fans,” there is only 1 “cat fan.” That roughly corresponds to the “intelligence ratio” found in the general population…

Naturally, I’m a cat owner.

Day #261

The Stoic Philosophers asked questions about “the good.” These are classic questions that all stoics contemplated.

1. What does it mean for something to be good?
2. What qualities make a person good?
3. What makes someone’s life a good life?
4. Does being a good person ensure you will live a good life?
5. Is being a good person enough to say you have lived a good life, even if that life was filled with adversity?

What follows is my humble attempt to grapple as best I can with answers to these questions…

Day #260

Stoic Question #1

What does it mean for something to be good?

Not an easy question. The stoics usually answered this question along the lines of “If something is in accord with nature, it is good.” Of course that in itself requires further explanation. My answer is, if a thing is in accord with its intended purpose and doing no harm to anyone or anything else, it is in conformity with what would be considered good.

Day #259

Stoic Question #2

What qualities make a person good?

Now we are getting a little more specific. I could list many qualities of course, truth-telling, integrity, consistency, and many others. In my mind, this comes down to harm, or rather doing no harm. If the words you live by and the actions you take are always intended to be in the best interest of others and do no harm either intentionally or unintentionally, it can be said you are a good person. Of course, there is always the chance that unintentional harm can occur. To be practical, all steps necessary to avoid that result must be taken before deciding on a course of action.

Day #258

Stoic Question #3

What makes someone’s life a good life?

Abiding as closely as possible with the dictate of Question #2 is a good start. I think there is a bit more to this. I think a person has to continually strive to grow intellectually and emotionally. Study is necessary, but self-reflection is critical to that growth as well. If when you reach the end of your life you sincerely believe you have become a better person than you were when you began your life journey, you have likely achieved a good life.

Day #257

Stoic Question #4

Does being a good person ensure you will live a good life?

To put it simply. Yes. If you are successful in your quest to live as a good person and have achieved that goal to the best of your ability, you have lived a good life. (See Question #3.)

Day #256

Stoic Question #5

Is being a good person enough to say you have lived a good life, even if that life was filled with adversity?

Yes, it is enough. There will always be events and consequences that fall outside of your control. The notion that we control everything in the world that may impact us is nonsense. If we live a good life but are beset with adversity, that is our fate, but not our fault. Fate is not a reason to declare we have failed to live a good life.

Day #255

I’ve been around long enough to know age is a state of mind.
I’ve seen things come and go,
And come back around again.
Some of life’s lessons have finally started sinking in.
If you don’t do nothin’ you will live to regret,
You won’t have to live with what you can’t forget.
If there is a secret to life,
It’s about staying in the here and now

— Delbert McClinton and Glen Clark

I’ve taken some minor liberties with the lyrics. This is one of my favorite songs. The point of this song for me is the idea that we should live the best life that we can. I suppose in some ways this is a Stoic notion, perhaps that’s why I like it. We should try to avoid doing things that will cause us to have regret. If we do find ourselves with regret, we should make every effort, not to forget what caused the regret, but to put that incident behind us. We will make mistakes, we should try and learn from them. We should keep focused on where we are and what’s in front of us.

Day #254

The Benefits of Journaling:

• Mindfulness
• Patience
• Personal Growth
• Building Consistency
• Reducing Stress
• Stimulating Creativity

I suppose you’re wondering, why do I care about this? The answer is, you probably shouldn’t. I use journaling as a means to achieve peace. The rest of the benefits listed above are just frosting.

Day #253

I need to quit interrupting people. It’s strange, often when I restrain myself and the conversation proceeds without my interjections, I realize that what I was eager to say had little real relevance. Hopefully that is not case when I wait my turn to speak…

Day #252

Is there anything better than the practice of examining one’s entire day? —Seneca

Seneca, a revered Stoic philosopher, likely spent too much time in the court of Rome. Politics did not serve him well. He should have stuck to writing full-time.

Do what you do best, and try to eliminate the temptation of non-essentials.

Day #251

If I don’t like eating spaghetti, that’s my choice. That choice does not grant me the right to make it illegal for everyone anyone else to eat spaghetti.

Day #250

The fool talks, the wise man writes.

First of all, there is no such thing as a truly wise man. It is also the case that we are all a fool in some way. Given that, it is easy to go through life spouting one opinion after another. It’s impossible to remember everything we have said throughout the day, let alone throughout a lifetime. Writing, when it is done wisely, provides the opportunity to think more clearly and precisely. We learn from a recording of our thoughts and the recorded thoughts of others. There is also the benefit of revision over time as new knowledge is discovered and comprehended. Writing is itself a form of learning, unlike the idle chatter of the foolish.

Day #249

I would like to learn Kumiko.

Kumiko is a traditional Japanese woodworking technique that involves intricate patterns and designs assembled from thin strips of wood. The technique does not require power tools or a large space. It can be done completely by hand if desired and typically is done that way. It believe it would be a peaceful and satisfying hobby. Like quilting, only for men. (No sexual preference intended.)

I’ll put that on my list of things to explore (Kumiko).

Day #248

I probably kiss the cat on the top of his head more often than I should, but I’m pretty sure it’s one of the things that endears him to me.

Speaking of “pretty sure.” Grammarly would give me a low score on the confidence scale for using “pretty sure” as opposed to simply “sure,” or even better, “positive.” I have no plans to make myself sound more confident than I actually am. (Note: the word “actually” in the previous sentence also lowers my confidence score…)

Day #247

I enjoy the Blues. It’s my favorite musical genre. My favorite artist is Keb’ Mo’ a.k.a. Kevin Roosevelt Moore. He is considered a living throw-back to the Delta Blues, the original Blues genre. I don’t know much about that, I just like his style. To my ear, his sound is a modern blend of different Blues styles. I think he is a very good lyricist and he delivers thoughtful messages. I can also sing along with him — when no one is around…

Day #246

I tried to watch two Mel Brooks movies last night. It turns out not to be my deal. I did enjoy a couple of lines from “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.”

We are the Knights of Camelot.
We eat ham and jam and Spam alot.

Also, the classic:

I fart in your general direction…

(Probably from eating too much Spam.)

I find myself to be more of a Clint Eastwood fan. “High Plains Drifter” is one of my favorite movies. I like the following line, probably the longest line spoken in the entire movie…

It’s what people know about themselves inside that makes them afraid.

Day #245

I want to be the best 100 year old skier the 70+ Ski Club has ever had.

Day #244

Regularity is the key to practice. Practice is the key to competence. Regularity means every day. I don’t like slogans, but Nike got it right: “Just Do It.” Better yet would be the slogan: “Just Do It Every Day.”

Day #243

I am in the process of becoming the best I can be…

Day #242

There is nothing easy about writing, just as there is nothing easy about turning out quality pieces of art. I am of mediocre ability at both. I have realized that “being the best,” or even being “good,” is not the point. The point is in the doing. The point is deriving the benefit that it has to offer you. This holds no matter what you are doing. As Epictetus said: “If you wish to be a writer, write.” That’s true of all things. Whatever worthwhile skill you wish to obtain, you will never obtain it unless you work at it. Here is the rewarding part: It’s not about being the best, it’s about being the best you can be.

Day #241

Of course, I love to write. It’s interesting how I came to this late in life. I always thought I would be a woodworker in my retirement. That takes money and space, both of which I find myself to be somewhat short of. Not to be deterred from doing something satisfying and rewarding, I fell into writing. I’m glad I did. I think the written word has at least as much value as hand crafted objects. Besides, if I want to dabble in wood arts on a limited budget, with limited space, I could always take up Kumiko. (A prospect I am considering.)

Day #240

Abigail Adams wrote to John Adams in 1776, “All men would be tyrants if they could.” Although she was referring to how most men treated women in her era, I can’t help but think how true this is when comparing men to their dealings with other men, as well as with women.

Abigail was a proponent of public education for women and equal roles in society and public life. While John was generally in favor of public education for women, he never came around to accepting them as full participants in public life.

This unfortunate stigma still can be found in our society 250 years later. What is particularly disconcerting is that there is a movement afoot by conservative influencers to turn the clock back, rather than recognize the virtue in this perspective.

Day #239

If you have a heart condition, living with a cat reduces the chance of a fatal heart attack by 30%. I live with a cat, but I’m thinking about getting two more. I like the sound of reducing my odds by 90%…