Welcome, May!

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The past few weeks have been stressful. Training new employees, dealing with difficult customers, not sleeping well, not exercising (I’ve gained 20 pounds in the last two years), getting through family drama (two life-threatening events in the same day, 2000 miles apart: my dad’s heart attack in NM and a 9 year grandchild starting the rest of his life with Type 1 Diabetes) . . .  My CrossFit lifestyle withered into oblivion when I lost my job at the University in 2020, as Covid got going. Deep depression brought me to a standstill as I took a few months to try to reset. Since then, my physical status has been on steady decline. Now my daily schedule looks something like this: Work 3-11 pm (on a good day), Go to bed at 4 am, get up between 10:30 am and noon, get booted up and go back to work. If I get one day off a week I’m fortunate. At least I don’t have to work all night for now. That was the worst.  So I haven’t had time or energy to do much, even read, much less write. And since my

The Character of The Philosopher

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“For philosophy doesn’t consist in outward display, but in taking heed to what is needed and being mindful of it.” (Musonius Rufus, Lectures, 16.75.15-16)

Philosophy is not all head-stuff and thinkology. The lover of wisdom discerns, understands, directs the mind in order to take appropriate action. The lover of wisdom has a plan that informs works. The lover of wisdom is identified by character: he is aware of himself and his relationships to others.

Imagine for a moment a young lady who, stepping through an open door says “thank you.” A nice young lady, correct? But in getting to the door, she ran to be the first one through, even pushing someone aside. The outward show makes one statement, but her character is seen in how she treated others. Philosophy is more than manners. Philosophy is more than acquiring knowledge. Philosophy is the pursuit of doing what is right, even adding value to others, contributing.

This is what distinguishes the lover of wisdom, the philosopher: character. One is mindful, attentive, flexible, bold, discerning, compassionate, content, decisive, responsible. 

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