The Necklace

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  “SHE WAS one of those pretty, charming young ladies, born, as if through an error of destiny, into a family of clerks. She had no dowry, no hopes, no means of becoming known, appreciated, loved, and married by a man either rich or distinguished; and she allowed herself to marry a petty clerk in the office of the Board of Education. . . .  She had neither frocks nor jewels, nothing. And she loved only those things. She felt that she was made for them. She had such a desire to please, to be sought after, to be clever, and courted.” —THE NECKLACE Guy de Maupassant    France, 1884 (pic by Grok) Read this short story here:  https://americanliterature.com/author/guy-de-maupassant/short-story/the-necklace

Daily Practice for February

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The end of a month is exciting for it represents a time of transition, the chance to review days gone by and make changes for personal growth in the days that lay ahead. The rubric for February looks something like a daily check-list and is presented in no particular order. This will become daily practice for the month until it is mastered . . . if nothing prevents me:

  • ASK: "What would _____ do?" 
"Cherish some man of high character, and keep him ever before your eyes, living as if he were watching you, and ordering all your actions as if he beheld them." (Epicurius)
  • PREPARE: "What could go wrong?" 
Think ahead, plan for contingencies. Don't let yourself be ambushed, taken by surprise.
  • TRAIN: Practice voluntary discomfort. 
Skip a meal, take a cold shower, "forget" your coat. Get out of your comfort zone.

  • RESOLVE: "If nothing prevents me .  . ."
The new "to do" list.
  • AMOR FATI
Accept what is outside your control and love it.
  • PRACTICE
Infuse every opportunity with virtue
  • RELEASE
Let go. Nothing is yours, only borrowed.
  • MINIMALIZE
Don't hoard or acquire what you will not use. Learn to use what you have.
  • FORGIVE
People don't know what they are doing. 
  • BREATHE
Stay calm, buy tranquility.

Daily Practice is the Philosophy

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