Back in late October, I began doing some reading in Stoicism and Epicureanism. During the lockdown in Beijing last year, I realized that I had wasted a lot of time. And being interested in self-improvement, but not the fluffy, milk-and-water spiritualism that so often passes for self-help these days, I decided to review what the ancient Greeks had to say on the subject. And the idea of Arete sounded a lot like mindfulness, and self-improvement through careful self observation.

At any rate, I started re-reading my favorite Western philosophers. One of the tools the Stoics recommended for cultivating one’s inner Daimon, or “Ideal Self,” was journal-keeping, and morning and evening meditations on the day. I began starting each day reading a quote from one of the sages, meditating upon it, and writing down my own thoughts about it. I will start posting them here on Fridays next month.

Your thoughts and responses are welcome.

ALSO— ON this date in 1978, my little brother was born. And that makes this as good as a national holiday, Or it should do, anyway.