Quotes to Live By

"...to accept it without arrogance...to let it go with indifference."

"Obective judgment...Unselfish action...Willing acceptance."

"Straight...not straightened."

--Marcus Aurelius

Of Bikes and Books

There are several benefits to my daily exercise routine. As I pedal along the exercise bike for sixty minutes, I read. I'd estimate that I read for 45 out of 60 minutes, while on the bike, five days a week.

What I've read lately:

Handbook, Epictetus

Meditations, Marcus Aurelius

• These are two foundational readings in ancient Stoicism, and studying the Stoics has been a tremendous help to me. Simple, sensible, logical, no-nonsense, live in the moment wisdom. It works the same today as it did nearly 2000 years ago. Stoicism has its roots in Socrates.

Diogenes the Cynic, Luis Navia

• Diogenes is the most notable Cynic of ancient times. He was a disciple of Antisthenes, who himself learned from Socrates. His brutal honesty stunned his contemporaries; he lived in a tub, and is known for the "war" he waged against the world. He was a phenomenal man, devoted to truth, and damn the consequences. There have been very few men with the courage of a Diogenes. Many interesting anecdotes have come down to us regarding Diogenes. It is said that he once walked through the streets of Athens in broad daylight with a lit lantern. When asked why, he replied he was searching for an honest man. Alexander the Great was said to visit Diogenes, asking him what he could do for him. Diogenes retorted that he could move out of his sunlight.

The Freedom Manifesto, Tom Hodgkinson

• Allen gave me this volume for my birthday. This is the same guy who wrote How to Be Idle, one of my favorites, which challenges much that is considered mainstream and "normal." In this volume, it's more of the same, challenging the status quo, encouraging us to be free and less dependent on government, supermarkets, jobs, etc. Very enjoyable read.

Today I was at the Friends of the Library Bookstore at the main library in Huntsville. They have many excellent books, many of them classics, for pennies. I bought Thoreau's Walden and Shakespeare's Hamlet today. I look forward to digging into those.

Enjoying the Week in Hilton Head, SC

For the tenth or eleventh year (I've lost count), my kids and I have joined my parents, my sister, her husband, and their four kids in Hilton Head, South Carolina for a weeklong reunion of sorts. It's a family get together that we all enjoy. For several years now, we've been staying at the same house, which, for the time being, fits our needs well. The house has a nice pool, space for horseshoes, and sleeping space for ten. This year, we've spent a lot of time at the beach (probably more than any other year I remember), riding bikes, swimming, and playing tennis.

Sarah Catherine, Matthew, and I have been riding bikes a good bit at home, and that has carried over to Hilton Head. SC especially likes to go riding bikes a couple of times a day here. Yesterday, we saw two small alligators in a pond, and a giant turtle that moved surprisingly fast.

Tonight was our 2nd annual Talent Show. The kids did dances, played music, and we all read my recently written children's book, Dinosaur Day, which I'm still working on getting published.

Two nights ago, I prepared the meal of crusted tilapia, fresh green beans, and rice. We've eaten some good meals out as well.

Saturday, we'll pack up and make the long trip back home. At least we'll gain an hour.

Sarah Catherine's Dance Recital

SC performed well Tuesday night at her dance recital at the Civic Center. Karen, her boys, Matthew, and I sat up in the balcony and watched her perform. Apparently, she's one of the best in the class, judging from the position she was in...front and center. They danced to a Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus song...which, of course, having a 9 year old daughter, I knew!

After her performance, we gathered in the lobby of the Civic Center to give gifts to Sarah (I fulfilled her request for the Bengal Tiger Webkinz) and congratulate her. I'll post a picture or two on here.

I'm proud of both my kids...they are creative, imaginitave, and, this is what thrills me...they seem happy.

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Speaking of being happy, we've had a lot of fun already this summer. The kids create interesting environments both inside and out of the house. They've made restaurants, zoos, and other interesting places come alive. We've painted a table together, befriended a neighborhood dog (who, if he keeps coming around, we'll be calling our pet pretty soon I imagine), played video games together, watched movies, and played kick ball in the back yard (although today the ball was punctured). Next week we're heading to Hilton Head for our annual family reunion. We're all looking forward to it.

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I've read some good stuff lately. Epictetus' Handbook and Marcus Aurelius' Meditations are two of the most influential works I've ever read: very practical and helpful for living. From Marcus: "Objective judgment...Unselfish action...Willing acceptance."

Now I'm reading Tom Hodgkinson's The Freedom Manifesto and Luis Navia's Diogenes the Cynic, about one of the most interesting figures in the history of mankind.

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As I live and type, I'm watching Knocked Up again, for maybe the sixth or seventh time. I love that movie. Paul Rudd is one of my favorite actors...very funny.

Cake

Riding my exercise bike today (which I've now upped to 50 minutes a day, 5 days a week---ain't I good?), and listening to my iPod (how "modern" and "cool" of me), I heard a song by Cake. The song was No Phone. A couple of years ago, Cake was mostly all I listened to. I had discovered them quite by accident, and I must credit a movie for that. Shallow Hal, starring Jack Black, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Jason Alexander (yes, the same one who played my hero George Costanza on Seinfeld), is about a man who sees women only for their surface beauty, until he is hypnotized unknowingly, thanks to Tony Robbins. It's a good movie...very funny.

But at the end of the movie, as the credits rolled, I heard a song that went a little something like this:

We are building a religion
We are building it bigger
We are widening the corridors
And adding more lanes

We are building a religion
A limited edition
We are now accepting callers
For these pendant key chains

To resist it is useless
It is useless to resist it...


The song captivated me, music and lyrics...That song was Comfort Eagle. I then devoured all Cake (pun intended). At the time I didn't realise they also sang Never There (official video), Hem of Your Garment, and other good tunes. I have four or five of their lp's.

When I met Karen, we shared an affection for Cake, as well as each other. So when I heard No Phone today, I became nostalgic and remembered the "old days". My favorite Cake song? That would have to be You Turn the Screws.

The Art of Living

I have recently discovered the treasure that is Stoicism, and particularly, the first century Roman slave turned sage Epictetus. Like Socrates, Epictetus wrote nothing, but rather spoke words of wisdom and practical living to his pupils. As Plato recorded the teachings of his master Socrates, Arrian put down those of his teacher Epictetus.

Stoicism is one of the most ancient and enduring philosophies of the western world, and was highly regarded among all walks of life, including the ruling class. Marcus Aurelius, the Roman ruler, is one of the most influential Stoics, and his work, Meditations, is my next read.

When many people think of the term stoic, they think of boredom, passivity, and non-emotion. It's a caricature, that's all. Stoicism is actually a very practical way of living life, with virtue, understanding, reason, and accord with nature. It emphasizes focusing your attention on yourself, and what you can control, not on external circumstances outside of your control.

I just finished reading The Art of Living, a contemporary interpretation of Epictetus' Handbook. It's not a "book" in the typical sense; it's rather a collection of wise thoughts on how to live. It doesn't even read like philosophy...it's not technical at all...very readable and very practical. That's what I love about it. Anyone can profit from it, and unlike some philosophies or belief systems, it transcends time...it works as well in the 21st century as it did in the first.

Here are some snippets:

"Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not. It is only after you have faced up to this fundamental rule and learned to distinguish between what you can and can't control that inner tranquility and outer effectiveness become possible."

"Keep your attention focused entirely on what is truly your own concern, and be clear that what belongs to others is their business and none of yours."

"It is not things that disturb us, but our interpretation of their significance."

"Things and people are not what we wish them to be nor what they seem to be. They are what they are."

"We cannot choose our external circumstances, but we can always choose how we respond to them."

"Things simply are what they are. Other people think what they will think; it is of no concern to us. No Shame. No Blame."

"Never depend on the admiration of others. There is no strength in it. Personal merit cannot be derived from an external source...Grow up! Who cares what other people think about you! Create your own merit."

"Don't demand or expect that events happen as you would wish them to. Accept events as they actually happen. That way peace is possible."

(All quotes from The Art of Living, Lebell)

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These quotes are the tip of the iceberg...Get the book yourself (I got mine used on Amazon.com for $5-6)...you'll be glad you did. You can read it in a couple of hours, and then keep it with you kind of like a manual for life. Epictetus' Handbook is kind of the West's answer to the Tao Te Ching, one of my next projects.

Play Ball

I haven't been here in a while...now I'm black.

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I'm happy that baseball season has started, albeit in a manner (or more specifically, a location) that I'm not too pleased about. It's not that I'm opposed to Japan...it's a cool place I suppose, and they've given America some quality baseball talent, but baseball is our NATIONAL PASTTIME, and so Opening Day should take place here, not at 6 a.m. Eastern time on a Tuesday morning in Japan. At any rate, all is right with the world again...baseball is back. I consider Opening Day to take place Monday, when the Yankees open at home against the Blue Jays. Opening Day is one of my favorite days of the year.

In related developments, I have three fantasy baseball teams. I think I drafted well, and have a good chance at defending my championship from last season. I'll have to beat, not just my Pops, but my girlfriend as well.

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The kids are well. They're back in school this week after Spring Break. Yesterday we checked out the new Hardee's in Meridianville, then went shopping for clothes for summer. Tonight we all hopped in the hot tub, which I spent the weekend preparing. Matthew had been excited about it, asking me about it for several days. It worked buddy!

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This weekend the kids and I are off to Auburn for the A-Day game and a couple of AU baseball games with my parents.