Started as I mean to go on
One month into the new year, activity threads are coming together
The first month of this new year felt like the blueprint for the whole year.
It started with a week-long trip to Rome that taught me Stop Thinking and Start Doing. The trip had been thought about for years but decided on a whim, planned in a couple of days and begun within the week. I will be able to write about it when the excitement has died down (by the next newsletter?)
In the meantime, a group of friends and I are about to embark on a year-long practice of Stoicism with the aim of living the good life.
52 weeks to a Stoic Life
Daily on Slack. Monthly on Zoom. One year together.
Why join?
“Stoicism is roughly one part theory and nine parts practice. The Stoics were very clear that understanding the philosophy (not that difficult) without putting it to use is a waste of time and energy. Epictetus said, “If you didn’t learn these things in order to demonstrate them in practice, what did you learn them for?” […] There is a crucial difference between understanding something, which we can do by reading and reflecting on it, and internalising that same thing, which can only be done with repeated practice. And that is precisely what this book is for.”
(From the Introduction, Live like a Stoic: 52 Exercises for cultivating a good life by Massimo Pigliucci and Gregory Lopez)
About the book
The book is really a textbook, with readings and exercises all set out weekly.
“The answers to daily worries and anxieties - big or small - lie at the heart of Stoic philosophy.
Live Like a Stoic is the essential guide to help us live the good life. It offers a year-long programme of 52 weekly exercises aimed at mastering an array of real-life troubles. Full of practical lessons and sections for journaling, it provides all the tools needed to overcome any life obstacles we might face.” (from the book blurb)
How will it work?
Our journey will be structured with a new ‘lesson’ starting every Sunday.
Minimum time commitment
Every Sunday: Read the brief text for the week (2-3 pages) that also sets out the week’s exercise.
Every weekday: Spend 5-10 minutes every evening reflecting and journaling on the exercise and how you applied it to your life during the day.
Optional extension activities
Daily: A slack channel will be set up for every week where we can interact, and share ideas, musings and formulations.
Every Saturday: A brief check-in in the channel for that week
On the last Saturday of every month: live check-in meeting on zoom. The authors will be joining us on our first Zoom meeting on Saturday 26th February.
Interested?
Our journey starts tomorrow at The Stoic Salon , and there is still time to join us. Head over here, and let’s get started!
Philosophy courses
Although not a conscious new year resolution, I seem to be engaging with more activities relating to philosophy. So far, I have enrolled in the following:
Practical Philosophy 1 with Martin Bloomfield at the School of Philosophy and Economic Science. A 10-week live online course, now in its third week.
Socratic Method with Donald Robertson at Plato’s Academy. Delivered through email and via a Facebook group.
Epictetus’ Enchiridion course with Greg Sadler at the Sadler Academy. Taught through commentary videos, printable worksheets, handouts and quizzes; discussion forums available for reflection and discussion.
This is the passion of the philosopher, to wonder: for there is no other principle of philosophy except this.
Plato, Theaetetus
Memoir MLW group
The Memoir and Life Writing group that I facilitate in the LWS has now migrated from Slack to our new platform, Circle. We are now getting used to the new platform and considering ideas for enhancing our writing practice and supporting each other.
We meet up on zoom on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month; you can find us here.
The best moments in reading are when you come across something - a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things - which you had thought special and particular to you. Now here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out and taken yours.
Alan Bennett, The History Boys
The heart meets the (left) hand and they embrace imperfection
My lettering compositions have finally found a home!
The ink flows freely, in the moment of writing, unrehearsed and thus imperfect, but straight to the point where the (left) hand meets the heart. Check them out here and here.