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Marcus Aurelius · Meditations, Book 5

The quality of our thoughts

I have agency and control over the quality of my thoughts.

The things you think about determine the quality of your mind. Your soul takes on the color of your thoughts.
Anywhere you can lead your life, you can lead a good one.Meditations 5.16 · Gregory Hays translation · p. 59

I was in downtown Castle Rock today checking out the July 4th festivities. A young woman was wearing a flag as a cape that had Trump/Vance printed on it, in large letters. Her T-shirt said something about “libtards” above a large scary-looking angel of death figure.

Is she happy? What are the colors of her thoughts? I can’t imagine that thinking about “libtards” is helping her in meaningful ways, but who am I to judge her life and its challenges?

What I do know is this: I have agency and control over the quality of my thoughts and their impact on my life. I know my negative thoughts get in the way of what I can be.

What I want to be is this: honest and good, a man of character and self-control, like Marcus’s grandfather Verus from 1.1.

Castle Rock, CO
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Impression No. 207·Edition I