A post about stoicism.
There’s nothing more tech-boi than quoting philosophy. As if they’re the first people to discover Stoicism.
No blog would be replete without some good ol Seneca. I’m currently re-reading his letters. Yes, I am aware that I am a walking, talking caricature.
Sometimes that knowledge is what creates the resistance to write. After all, you could go to literally any other male programmer between the ages of 25 and 40 and probably get this same blog post.
But, here you are. So I might as well make good of it.
The act of thinking about your life and how to improve it is, by itself, a defining act. The intent to change your life automatically improves it. It can pull you out of the dangerous and unfortunate situation of abdicating control over your life.
Simply thinking “How can I be better?” is enough. Philosophy only provides a framework to operate on. How can I be more moral? More ethical? How can I be kinder and stronger and make better sense of life?
I see in myself, Lucilius, not just an improvement but a transformation, although I would not venture as yet to assure you, or even hope, that there is nothing left in me needing to be changed.
We must often be searching for improvement. In every aspect of our lives. Isn’t that tiring? Certainly not as tiring as complacency and stagnation. Though all of these have their times. Seneca says himself that men should be capable of both action and relaxation.
My father, when I was younger, used to say “Everything in moderation”.
I need a beer.