This hit close to home - 11 months prior to you writing this I was staring at the black circular end of a 9mm a mere 8’ from me. TLDR I emerged unscathed, feeling not only lucky, but grateful. Yeah, I’ve had some panic attacks and fitful nights’ dreams in which things go sideways, but the luck and gratitude is steadfast. This piece, though, has me reframing further and finding joy not only in reflections on the aftermath, but in this very moment. 🙏🙏
Back in high school I did the international baccalaureate (IB -> EU), which was side by side with the Advanced Placement (AP -> USA), in order to get equivalency diploma to do university in Europe.
I mention this because the IB has a mandatory course called "theory of knowledge", which is an introduction to philosophy. They basically try to superficially cram into 1 course what takes place over many years in many European high schools.
My Italian parents would often complain to me how the American education system completely ignores philosophy and back then my only thought was: "whatever".
But it's interesting how as an adult, especially a male adult, returning to the "classics" like the Stoics, can help us find the wise advice about how to get through life.
And maybe if we had a basic introduction to it in school, it wouldn't hurt.
Agreed. My life would have been better if I'd been introduced to philosophy early on...at least I think so. Perhaps being force fed it would have turned me off to it like I was turned off of religion by weekly church attendance. Luckily, it's never too late to return to the masters. Tomorrow awaits :)
This hit close to home - 11 months prior to you writing this I was staring at the black circular end of a 9mm a mere 8’ from me. TLDR I emerged unscathed, feeling not only lucky, but grateful. Yeah, I’ve had some panic attacks and fitful nights’ dreams in which things go sideways, but the luck and gratitude is steadfast. This piece, though, has me reframing further and finding joy not only in reflections on the aftermath, but in this very moment. 🙏🙏
Glad you're still with us, Chuck! And that you found some value in this article.
Inescapably logical take Andrew. Much harder, for whatever reason, to implement in practice.
Back in high school I did the international baccalaureate (IB -> EU), which was side by side with the Advanced Placement (AP -> USA), in order to get equivalency diploma to do university in Europe.
I mention this because the IB has a mandatory course called "theory of knowledge", which is an introduction to philosophy. They basically try to superficially cram into 1 course what takes place over many years in many European high schools.
My Italian parents would often complain to me how the American education system completely ignores philosophy and back then my only thought was: "whatever".
But it's interesting how as an adult, especially a male adult, returning to the "classics" like the Stoics, can help us find the wise advice about how to get through life.
And maybe if we had a basic introduction to it in school, it wouldn't hurt.
Agreed. My life would have been better if I'd been introduced to philosophy early on...at least I think so. Perhaps being force fed it would have turned me off to it like I was turned off of religion by weekly church attendance. Luckily, it's never too late to return to the masters. Tomorrow awaits :)