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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.