I

July    21st

MADE    FOR WORKING TOGETHER

“Whenever   you have    trouble getting up  in  the morning,    remind  yourself    that    you’ve  been    made    by

nature  for the purpose of  working with    others, whereas even    unthinking  animals share   sleeping.

And it’s    our own natural purpose that    is  more    fitting and more    satisfying.”

—MARCUS AURELIUS,   MEDITATIONS,    8.12

f a dog spends all day in bed—your bed, most likely—that’s fine. It’s just being a dog. It doesn’t have
anywhere to be, no other obligation other than being itself. According to the Stoics, we humans have a
higher obligation—not to the gods but to each other. What gets us out of bed each morning—even when
we fight it like Marcus did—is praxeis koinonikas apodidonai (to render works held in common).
Civilization and country are great projects we build together and have been building together with our
ancestors for millennia. We are made for cooperation (synergia) with each other.
So if you need an extra boost to get out of bed this morning, if you need something more than caffeine
can offer, use this. People are depending on you. Your purpose is to help us render this great work
together. And we’re waiting and excited for you to show up.