W

May 25th

WHERE   TO  FIND    JOY

“Joy    for human   beings  lies    in  proper  human   work.   And proper  human   work    consists    in: acts    of

kindness    to  other   human   beings, disdain for the stirrings   of  the senses, identifying trustworthy

impressions,    and contemplating   the natural order   and all that    happens in  keeping with    it.”

—MARCUS AURELIUS,   MEDITATIONS,    8.26

hen dog trainers are brought in to work with a dysfunctional or unhappy dog, they usually start with
one question: “Do you take it for walks?” They ask because dogs were bred to do certain tasks—
to do work—and when deprived of this essential part of their nature, they suffer and act out. This is true
no matter how spoiled and nice their life might be.
The same is true for humans. When you hear the Stoics brush aside certain emotions or material
luxuries, it’s not because they don’t enjoy them. It’s not because the Stoic life is one bereft of happiness or
fun. The Stoics simply mean to help us find our essence—to experience the joy of our proper human work.