Thursday, April 9, 2015

DNA Surprise

I did an ancestry.com DNA test. There was a little surprise. Of course, there's a lot of admixture across adjacent regions. Still, the amount surprised me. Most of the result was what I expected, but nine percent was, as the test defines it, "Italian-Greek". I had no idea.

This gives me a personal connection to things I'm interested in. Serendipity. :) 

Saturday, March 7, 2015

Getting a Job

The job market where I am in the United States is fairly tight--there are few openings in my field and, from what I've heard, there are many applicants for the positions that are open. 

Some people are telling me that I have to network.

They're probably right. I'm definitely poor at networking. The concept even turns me off a little. I just want to be friendly and authentic with everyone I meet. Networking--even if it isn't, in reality, "schmoozing"--it does sound like forcing the relationship beyond what's natural. That isn't so appealing to me. 

In my cover letters, I didn't hide my mistakes or weak points. I was forthright. I like sales--a lot. I used to work in sales, and I understand there's a sales aspect to getting a job. But I'm not that kind of salesperson.

I also submitted applications to companies in Asia, for my other field. I had two interviews already and I'm scheduled for a third. I didn't hide my mistakes or weak points from these employers, but they didn't seem to mind; they seemed receptive to me. 

There's so much here, and there's so much in Asia. If I get a job here, I think I will be happy. If I get a job in Asia, I think I will be happy. 

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

In America

I'm in the United States right now. It seemed so far away before I left. Now Korea seems far away. 

The last time I was in America--to live--was about ten years ago (although I took a trip to the States in 2008 for about four weeks). People talk about reverse culture shock--but through Stoicism I realized I could decide not to have it, if I chose. Still, there have been a few things I didn't know how to do here that were unexpected. I had to somewhat sheepishly explain that I hadn't been here and didn't know how it was done. 

If I can find a job here, I will stay. If not, I will have to move on.

I was feeling kind of negative today, so here's a list of the best things that happened in the week since I've been back.

1. I got the opportunity to see an old friend, whom I hadn't met in person since 2003, and have a long, soul-warming, therapeutic conversation with her.

2. I got the opportunity to give an outstanding review on Trip Advisor of the place I stayed at for the first two days. 

3. I got the opportunity to buy cookies for the people I'm currently staying with.

4. I got the opportunity to meet a really friendly, chatty taxi driver.

5. The city I'm currently in has an enormous mountain near it. Until today, it was shrouded in cloud, but this morning the weather broke fresh, clear, and breezy. You could see the summit really well. For a mountain-lover, what a treat!

6. I got the opportunity sincerely to compliment the cashier tonight at the drug store on his speediness. 

My goal here is to make people smile. Not so I can feel proud of myself. But because the world needs that. Can I do it? Wish me luck! 

Saturday, December 27, 2014

Happy New Year

I started this blog in December of 2013. I have now kept it for just over one year. There were good points and bad, high points and low. Thank you so much, readers, for coming to my blog. Overall, it's been an enormously valuable learning experience. 

My goals for 2015 are a little different. I am still a neophyte, to be sure, but I want my focus to be on doing rather than writing and thinking. I want to focus on incorporating religious and philosophical practices into my life--as a regular part of life--not as things that are external to ordinary life, that are held up in the air, observed from afar and intellectualized--not as things additional to daily life, but rather as things that are part of life in the same way that making dinner or going to work or exercising are parts of life.

To that end, I hope to apply Stoic thought more consistently and regularly. I will try to keep a Stoic journal--a private one--in a real notebook, not in an online blog. I hope to follow the Roman calendar for the whole year with regard to holidays, and also to do religious practices each day for the whole year. I hope to do rituals as properly as possible and to expand my reading of source material. I will try to learn more Latin, and I will try incorporate the new information I learn into my daily practices. If I can't achieve these goals with absolute, perfect consistency, that will be okay. One way to fail is to let the perfect kill the good. 

The thing about the future is--it's not ours to see. It's outside our control. Because of that, hope is a dangerous thing, to the extent that it causes us to feel miserable when reality doesn't meet our expectations. And reality sure has a way of doing that. Nonetheless, whatever happens, we live in a charmingly beautiful world. To be able to experience it--the passage of the seasons, the changing patterns of clouds, the choice we have at any moment to try and make those around us happy--among many, many other things--these are truly pleasures. With those thoughts in mind, I wish you a happy, lovely, and successful 2015. 

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Meditations, Book IV, Section 6

Meditations, Book IV, Section 6:
Such and such things, from such and such causes, must of necessity proceed. He that would not have such things to happen, is as he that would have the fig-tree grow without any sap or moisture. In sum, remember this, that within a very little while, both thou and he shall both be dead, and after a little while more, not so much as your names and memories shall be remaining.

Meditations, Book IV, Section 5

Meditations, Book IV, Section 5:
As generation is, so also death, a secret of nature's wisdom: a mixture of elements, resolved into the same elements again, a thing surely which no man ought to be ashamed of: in a series of other fatal events and consequences, which a rational creature is subject unto, not improper or incongruous, nor contrary to the natural and proper constitution of man himself.

Meditations, Book IV, Section 4

Meditations, Book IV, Section 4:
If to understand and to be reasonable be common unto all men, then is that reason, for which we are termed reasonable, common unto all. If reason is general, then is that reason also, which prescribeth what is to be done and what not, common unto all. If that, then law. If law, then are we fellow-citizens. If so, then are we partners in some one commonweal. If so, then the world is as it were a city. For which other commonweal is it, that all men can be said to be members of? From this common city it is, that understanding, reason, and law is derived unto us, for from whence else? For as that which in me is earthly I have from some common earth; and that which is moist from some other element is imparted; as my breath and life hath its proper fountain; and that likewise which is dry and fiery in me: (for there is nothing which doth not proceed from something; as also there is nothing that can be reduced unto mere nothing) so also is there some common beginning from whence my understanding hath proceeded.
An alternative translation:
If our intellectual part is common, the reason also, in respect of which we are rational beings, is common: if this is so, common also is the reason which commands us what to do, and what not to do; if this is so, there is a common law also; if this is so, we are fellow-citizens; if this is so, we are members of some political community; if this is so, the world is in a manner a state. For of what other common political community will any one say that the whole human race are members? And from thence, from this common political community comes also our very intellectual faculty and reasoning faculty and our capacity for law; or whence do they come? For as my earthly part is a portion given to me from certain earth, and that which is watery from another element, and that which is hot and fiery from some peculiar source (for nothing comes out of that which is nothing, as nothing also returns to non-existence), so also the intellectual part comes from some source.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Meditations, Book IV, Section 3

I find this section to be very useful. Marcus here is agnostic on the nature of the universe, but says that the conclusion for how to live your life is the same. He points out how one should endure bad people, but also about how disputing or contending people all eventually die, how praise and blame are fickle and temporary, and if there is something that you hunger after, such as fame, that too is fleeting and will one day disappear.

Meditations, Book IV, Section 3:
They seek for themselves private retiring places, as country villages, the sea-shore, mountains; yea thou thyself art wont to long much after such places. But all this thou must know proceeds from simplicity in the highest degree. At what time soever thou wilt, it is in thy power to retire into thyself, and to be at rest, and free from all businesses. A man cannot any whither retire better than to his own soul; he especially who is beforehand provided of such things within, which whensoever he doth withdraw himself to look in, may presently afford unto him perfect ease and tranquillity. By tranquillity I understand a decent orderly disposition and carriage, free from all confusion and tumultuousness. Afford then thyself this retiring continually, and thereby refresh and renew thyself. Let these precepts be brief and fundamental, which as soon as thou dost call them to mind, may suffice thee to purge thy soul throughly, and to send thee away well pleased with those things whatsoever they be, which now again after this short withdrawing of thy soul into herself thou dost return unto. For what is it that thou art offended at? Can it be at the wickedness of men, when thou dost call to mind this conclusion, that all reasonable creatures are made one for another? and that it is part of justice to bear with them? and that it is against their wills that they offend? and how many already, who once likewise prosecuted their enmities, suspected, hated, and fiercely contended, are now long ago stretched out, and reduced unto ashes? It is time for thee to make an end. As for those things which among the common chances of the world happen unto thee as thy particular lot and portion, canst thou be displeased with any of them, when thou dost call that our ordinary dilemma to mind, either a providence, or Democritus his atoms; and with it, whatsoever we brought to prove that the whole world is as it were one city? And as for thy body, what canst thou fear, if thou dost consider that thy mind and understanding, when once it hath recollected itself, and knows its own power, hath in this life and breath (whether it run smoothly and gently, or whether harshly and rudely), no interest at all, but is altogether indifferent: and whatsoever else thou hast heard and assented unto concerning either pain or pleasure? But the care of thine honour and reputation will perchance distract thee? How can that be, if thou dost look back, and consider both how quickly all things that are, are forgotten, and what an immense chaos of eternity was before, and will follow after all things: and the vanity of praise, and the inconstancy and variableness of human judgments and opinions, and the narrowness of the place, wherein it is limited and circumscribed? For the whole earth is but as one point; and of it, this inhabited part of it, is but a very little part; and of this part, how many in number, and what manner of men are they, that will commend thee? What remains then, but that thou often put in practice this kind of retiring of thyself, to this little part of thyself; and above all things, keep thyself from distraction, and intend not anything vehemently, but be free and consider all things, as a man whose proper object is Virtue, as a man whose true nature is to be kind and sociable, as a citizen, as a mortal creature. Among other things, which to consider, and look into thou must use to withdraw thyself, let those two be among the most obvious and at hand. One, that the things or objects themselves reach not unto the soul, but stand without still and quiet, and that it is from the opinion only which is within, that all the tumult and all the trouble doth proceed. The next, that all these things, which now thou seest, shall within a very little while be changed, and be no more: and ever call to mind, how many changes and alterations in the world thou thyself hast already been an eyewitness of in thy time. This world is mere change, and this life, opinion.
An alternative translation:
Men seek retreats for themselves, houses in the country, sea-shores, and mountains; and thou too art wont to desire such things very much. But this is altogether a mark of the most common sort of men, for it is in thy power whenever thou shalt choose to retire into thyself. For nowhere either with more quiet or more freedom from trouble does a man retire than into his own soul, particularly when he has within him such thoughts that by looking into them he is immediately in perfect tranquility; and I affirm that tranquility is nothing else than the good ordering of the mind. Constantly then give to thyself this retreat, and renew thyself; and let thy principles be brief and fundamental, which, as soon as thou shalt recur to them, will be sufficient to cleanse the soul completely, and to send thee back free from all discontent with the things to which thou returnest. For with what art thou discontented? With the badness of men? Recall to thy mind this conclusion, that rational animals exist for one another, and that to endure is a part of justice, and that men do wrong involuntarily; and consider how many already, after mutual enmity, suspicion, hatred, and fighting, have been stretched dead, reduced to ashes; and be quiet at last.- But perhaps thou art dissatisfied with that which is assigned to thee out of the universe.- Recall to thy recollection this alternative; either there is providence or atoms, fortuitous concurrence of things; or remember the arguments by which it has been proved that the world is a kind of political community, and be quiet at last.- But perhaps corporeal things will still fasten upon thee.- Consider then further that the mind mingles not with the breath, whether moving gently or violently, when it has once drawn itself apart and discovered its own power, and think also of all that thou hast heard and assented to about pain and pleasure, and be quiet at last.- But perhaps the desire of the thing called fame will torment thee.- See how soon everything is forgotten, and look at the chaos of infinite time on each side of the present, and the emptiness of applause, and the changeableness and want of judgement in those who pretend to give praise, and the narrowness of the space within which it is circumscribed, and be quiet at last. For the whole earth is a point, and how small a nook in it is this thy dwelling, and how few are there in it, and what kind of people are they who will praise thee.

Meditations, Book IV, Section 2

Meditations, Book IV, Section 2:
Let nothing be done rashly, and at random, but all things according to the most exact and perfect rules of art.

Meditations, Book IV, Section 1

Meditations, Book IV, Section 1:
That inward mistress part of man if it be in its own true natural temper, is towards all worldly chances and events ever so disposed and affected, that it will easily turn and apply itself to that which may be, and is within its own power to compass, when that cannot be which at first it intended. For it never doth absolutely addict and apply itself to any one object, but whatsoever it is that it doth now intend and prosecute, it doth prosecute it with exception and reservation; so that whatsoever it is that falls out contrary to its first intentions, even that afterwards it makes its proper object. Even as the fire when it prevails upon those things that are in his way; by which things indeed a little fire would have been quenched, but a great fire doth soon turn to its own nature, and so consume whatsoever comes in his way: yea by those very things it is made greater and greater.
An alternative translation (in the public domain, so reproducible here):
That which rules within, when it is according to nature, is so affected with respect to the events which happen, that it always easily adapts itself to that which is and is presented to it. For it requires no definite material, but it moves towards its purpose, under certain conditions however; and it makes a material for itself out of that which opposes it, as fire lays hold of what falls into it, by which a small light would have been extinguished: but when the fire is strong, it soon appropriates to itself the matter which is heaped on it, and consumes it, and rises higher by means of this very material.
I understand this to mean that it is desirable to adapt oneself to the circumstances and make use of things that are both aligned with and opposed to your purpose.