In our last +1, we explored some Stoic (Memento Mori!) wisdom.
More specifically, we opened to Page 5 of our Philosopher’s Notes on Breakfast with Seneca by David Fideler.
As you may recall, Fideler tells us: “One of my favorite Stoic ideas is that everything we have, or believe that we possess, is just ‘on loan’ from the universe. Everything. And one day, all those things will need to be returned.”
That’s a REALLY powerful idea and an even MORE POWERFUL practice.
Now…
Today I want to chat more about David Fideler and his GREAT book, Breakfast with Seneca.
I got this book immediately after Tom Morris recommended it in his new book, Stoicism for Dummies. It’s FANTASTIC.
I’ve always loved Seneca.
I can still *vividly* remember reading his Letters from a Stoic nearly 25 years ago (on a boat in the Mediterranean!) not too far from where Seneca wrote the letters 2,000 years ago while on a philosophical quest that included studying Socrates in Athens, Jesus in Jerusalem, Rumi in Turkey, and Aurelius near the Danube in Hungary.
But...
Other than that high-level overview and some references to Seneca in all the other books on Stoicism we’ve featured, there’s never been a book ALL about Seneca and his wisdom until this one.
And…
This book is now one of my all-time favorite books on Stoicism.
It made me fall in love with Seneca.
In fact…
As you know if you’ve been following along, I’ve often said that Epictetus is my favorite teacher and Aurelius is my favorite leader but... Seneca is a fascinating blend of BOTH of their BEST qualities. I think he’s now my favorite Stoic.
I just got all his other letters so I can study him more deeply. Much more coming soon.
We’ll explore some wisdom from the book in the next few +1s.
For Today…
I want to go back to what we focused on yesterday…
(Repetition, repetition, repetition!! It’s how we move from Theory to Practice to Mastery, Hero!!)
I repeat…
Fideler tells us: “One of my favorite Stoic ideas is that everything we have, or believe that we possess, is just ‘on loan’ from the universe. Everything. And one day, all those things will need to be returned.”
And…
I repeat…
One day…
Sooner than most of us would like to contemplate, OUR LIVES and ALL THOSE THINGS IN IT will need to be returned.
With that (goosebumps) potent wisdom in mind, let’s not take our lives (and any/everything in it!) for granted.
Rather…
Let’s follow the lead of the wisest among us (and each of us at our wisest moments!) and see our lives (and any/everything in it!) as gifts, generously on loan from a benevolent universe.
And…
Let’s have the humility to know that (goosebumps) (sweaty palms) (heart skip) ALL OF THOSE GIFTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY ON LOAN, WILL NEED TO BE RETURNED much (!) sooner than most of us would like to contemplate.
Then…
Let’s go ALL IN as we activate our Heroic potential and give ourselves, our families, our friends, our colleagues, and our communities and the world all we’ve got.
TODAY.
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