A Great Fortune

Embrace Gratitude

As we navigate our fast-paced lives, we easily overlook the immense fortune we enjoy daily. Reflecting on the lives of influential philosophers like Marcus Aurelius and Seneca, we can see how far we’ve come and how fortunate we are in the present. While we can’t predict what the 22nd or 23rd centuries will bring, we can cherish and make the most of today.

Imagine yourself in a serene setting—a cozy café like Farris Bad, where you’re sipping a rich, velvety cappuccino. You’ve just savored a bowl of exquisite fish soup. Now, through the expansive windows, you watch the gentle waves of Larvik’s fjord lapping at the shore. The scene is peaceful, almost meditative. In moments like these, self-reflection naturally arises, with it, a deep appreciation for our blessings.

We live in an era of remarkable convenience and innovation. Think about it: with the simple touch of a button, we can communicate instantly across the globe, access vast knowledge, and capture our thoughts, whether for starting a business, writing a poem, a blog post, or even a book. All of this is made possible by technology, electricity, and the tools we often take for granted, like our mobile phones.

Sitting here contemplating the waves’ beauty, I am reminded of gratitude while writing this blog and doing the abovementioned things. Let’s acknowledge these modern marvels and the ultimate source of our existence—the creator of life itself.

Furthermore, today’s technologies allow us to experience the world around us more enriching and fulfilling. It is our great fortune to be able to enjoy every moment.

Imagine:

The Fortune You Hold Today

A Reflection on Our Modern Blessings

Consider the towering figures of ancient history—Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus, who rose from slavery to wisdom. These were men whose wealth, power, and influence were unparalleled, even by today’s lofty standards. They commanded empires and shaped history; their names have echoed through the centuries. Yet, in many ways, you, here and now, are far more fortunate than they could have ever imagined.

Picture Marcus Aurelius, the revered philosopher-emperor, desiring to read as darkness envelopes his palace. What seems a simple, almost trivial act for us today would have been an intricate endeavor for him. Servants would scurry to light torches, holding them steady to provide the flickering light needed for reading. If the night were cold, even more servants would be tasked with stoking fires, struggling to keep the emperor warm in Rome’s vast stone halls.

This image contrasts ancient and modern life, emphasizing the advances in technology, comfort, and convenience.

Now, envision Seneca, the brilliant philosopher and one of Rome’s wealthiest men, planning a journey across the empire. His options were perilous—pirates prowled the seas, shipwrecks were a constant threat, and disease could strike without warning. His wealth could buy him comfort but not safety.

Contrast this with your life today. Do you wish to read? With a mere flick of a switch, your room, in an instant, is filled with light. Are you cold? You turn a thermostat dial, and warmth fills your room. Need to travel? You can traverse hundreds of miles in hours, enveloped in modern transportation safety and comfort. Even the simplest conveniences—zipping up a jacket, pulling on wool socks—are engineering marvels that would have been unimaginable in ancient Rome. These everyday items, so easily overlooked, rival Rome’s most outstanding achievements, such as the aqueducts that supplied water to millions.

Reflect on the most devastating pandemics of the past—the Antonine Plague of 165 CE, the Bubonic Plague, the Spanish Flu of 1918—disasters that ravaged entire civilizations, much like the COVID-19 pandemic that has shaken our world so recently in the past few years. Marcus Aurelius, who lived through a devastating plague, wrote about history’s relentless cycles in his Meditations. He reminded us that “all of this has happened before and will happen again.” Names and dates may change, but human struggle remains the same.

Now, ask yourself: Would you rather be poor today or fabulously wealthy in ancient Rome? The answer may initially seem obvious, but it’s worth a deeper reflection. Today, we buy extravagantly comforts, technologies, and opportunities that wealthy Romans couldn’t have imagined. We live in an era of unprecedented security, though it comes with modern stresses and uncertainties. We have access to vast stores of knowledge and medical advancements that would have seemed like sorcery to antiquity’s doctors.

But with these blessings comes a warning: let us not become complacent like the fabled Atlanteans, whose advanced civilization and technology vanished, leaving behind only myths and ruins. Will we, too, take our advancements for granted until they get lost in history? The Stoics, like Seneca and Epictetus, warned against such arrogance. Seneca once wrote that it is inexcusable not to learn from history, for our future is inevitably shaped by our understanding of what has come before. Epictetus, born into slavery, became one of history’s greatest philosophers, and his thoughts and wisdom are actual today. Furthermore, He taught that true power lies not in external circumstances but in our responses to them. His teachings on resilience and gratitude remind us to appreciate things we often overlook.

So, let us embrace this truth: we are fortunate. Every day, we should pause to acknowledge our incredible fortune and be deeply grateful for the countless blessings that fill our lives.

Interpretation:

This reflection masterfully contrasts the immense wealth and power of ancient figures like Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus with the relative abundance and convenience we enjoy today. Despite their influence and riches, these historical giants lacked the basic comforts we now take for granted—like instant light, warmth, and safe travel. (Though, most people today lack what these giants used – the power of their mind and regulation of emotions with gratitude) The vivid examples in the above text, such as the effort required for Marcus Aurelius to read by torchlight or the dangers Seneca faced while traveling, highlight how fortunate we are today. The inclusion of Epictetus broadens the perspective, reminding us that even those born into hardship can rise to greatness through resilience and wisdom. Ultimately, the text urges us to appreciate our time’s unprecedented security and comfort. It also encourages us to approach each day with gratitude, mindful of history’s lessons. The powerful blend of Stoicism, Positive Mental Attitude (PMA), and psychology encourages a perspective shift emphasizing resilience, gratitude, and the importance of learning from the past.

By Jay Pacheco

@pmasciencestoic

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