1. Book I am reading right now…
Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor (from 161-180) and a Stoic philosopher. He wrote Meditations, which is a series of personal notes and reflections that he wrote for himself in an effort to continue to improve. It wasn’t written to be published. He wrote it in Greek, so there are several translations of it. I tried to read it years ago, but didn’t love it. I found a version of Meditations, translated by Gregory Hays, that is so much better. The gist of Stoicism is that it’s not what happens to you, it’s how you RESPOND to what happens, and living virtuously. Meditations is LOADED with powerful nuggets. And it helps to see how a great Roman leader remained grounded and human. There are many great quotes from Marcus Aurelius, but here are a few…
“When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.”
“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
“Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.”
Remember… he wasn’t writing these words for you and me… he was writing these words for himself. Pretty cool! I do recommend the Gregory Hays version of Meditations, as it is simplified and clear. If interested, watch the video below, titled Marcus Aurelius: 5 LIFE CHANGING Quotes, by Ryan Holiday (It’s 11-minutes, but worth it!)
2. Quote I love…
Not trying to blast you with quotes today, but here is another GREAT one I heard this week. This one is from James Clear, author of the must-read book Atomic Habits…
“It doesn’t make sense to continue wanting something if you’re not willing to do what it takes to get it. If you don’t want to live the lifestyle, then release yourself from the desire. To crave the result but not the process is to guarantee disappointment.” – James Clear
3. Podcast I listened to this week…
I listen to lots of podcasts. They are not all share-worthy. I listened to one this week, The Diary of a CEO, created and hosted by British entrepreneur, Steven Bartlett, with guest Dr. William Li. It was posted back in May, but I just listened to it this week. Dr. Li discusses cancer, diet, and other info on chronic illness. He shares some powerful insights, strong facts, and tips that are worthwhile. I felt like I learned a lot from him on this podcast. One thing he does say is that we can now “see the light at the end of the tunnel” with cancer. I strongly disagree with him on that… as I believe we are so far from figuring out cancer. Yes… we are having some wins, but overall, we are on the wrong path in terms of “curing” cancer. That being said, I liked Dr. Li’s information and how he presented it. I do think it’s worth listening to, as I have passed it on to several people this week. You can listen to it by clicking here.
***Help us help others…***
Today kicks off our Community Supply Drive where we will be collecting personal hygiene products for Our Community Hunger Center in Twinsburg. They are in need of toothpaste, toothbrushes, body wash, deodorant, shampoo, laundry detergent, hand soap, razors, Q-tips, and combs. All donations can be made at our office… and any donations are GREATLY appreciated. And to boost donations, any of your family, friends, or co-workers who want to get checked as a new patient in our office can do so for ONLY $25 with the donation of ANY supplies. See flyer below for more details. And THANK YOU in advance for helping us help others!
