“For if a person shifts their caution to their own reasoned choices and the acts of those choices,  they will at the same time gain the will to avoid, but if they shift their caution away from their own reasoned choices to things not under their control, seeking to avoid what is controlled by others, they will then be agitated, fearful, and unstable.” Epictetus. Discourses, 2.1.12

“It looks as though trump is assembling a crew for a pirate ship” John Cleese. Looking at his cabinet picks I keep repeating to myself  ” under my control”. Enjoy dinner.

“The essence of good is a certain kind of reasoned choice; just as the essence of evil is another kind. What about externals, then? They are only the raw material for our reasoned choice, which finds its own good or evil in working with them. How will it find the good? Not by marveling at the material! For if judgements about the material are straight that makes our choices good, but if those judgements are twisted, our choices turn bad.”

So how can I see Trumps win as a good thing? I can make the choice to see the resurrection of the Democratic Party into a more progressive entity. Rejuvenate the workers toward unions. Add to that stronger on climate change, taxes for rich to balance the inequality gap, human rights, corporations less power and money out of politics. OK I’m feeling a little bit better.

“Some things are in our control, while others are not. We control our opinion, choice, desire, aversion, and, in a word, everything of our own doing. We don’t control our body, property, reputation, position, and in a word, everything not of our own doing. Even more, the things in our control are by nature free, unhindered, and unobstructed, while those not in our control are weak, slavish, can be hindered, and are not our own.” Epictetus, Enchiridion, 1.1-2

I control my opinion of what is fair or unfair. I have found I agree with Trump killing TPP. I will enjoy the moment. The other 99% unfair. I breathe and relax and find the calm spot where the waves roll by as I am still.

“We must give up many things to which we are addicted, considering them to be good. Otherwise,  courage will vanish, which should continually test itself. Greatness of soul will be lost, which can’t stand out unless it disdains as petty what the mob regards as most desirable. Seneca, Moral Letters, 74.12b-13

The ability to abstain that which takes our time and is a harness we strap on each day. My habit now of each day of seeing what is new in this Trump nightmare. I can feel my stomach twist as I read. I have cut out TV news all together. I listen to NPR still but not as much as I did. I need to bring this under my control of my emotions. I need to stay abreast of what is happening and keep the long view of the end. Hold on to my greatness of soul.

“The proper work of the mind is the exercise of choice, refusal, yearning, repulsion, preparation, purpose, and assent. What then can pollute and clog the mind’s proper functioning? Nothing but its own corrupt decisions.” Epictetus, Discourses, 4.11. 6-7

Choice- to stand up and take action

Refusal- allow anger to cloud thought

Yearning-not what should have been, but what is

Repulsion- of lies, distortion of truth and misinformation

Preparation- be ready and not surprised at any tactics used

Purpose- to fight at every step of injustice

Assent- know what is in my control and what isn’t

“A person who doesn’t know what the universe is, doesn’t know where they are. A person who doesn’t know their purpose in life doesn’t know who they are or what the universe is. A person who doesn’t know any one of these things doesn’t know why they are here. So what to make of people who seek or avoid the praise of those who have no knowledge of where or who they are?”

Universe is the ocean, we are the fish. Trump and Republicans are the island of plastic garbage we are now in.

“Let all efforts be directed to something, let it keep that end in view. It’s not activity that disturbs people, but false conceptions of things that drive them mad.” Seneca, On Tranquility of Mind, 12.5

The end being only 4 years of Trump with Elizabeth Warren as 46th President. A new progressive Democratic Party that fights for the working class and poor.

“All you need are these: certainty of judgement in the present moment; action for the common good in the present moment; and an attitude of gratitude in the present moment for anything that comes your way.”  Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 9.6

Control my perceptions: This is really happening in the United States of America.

Direct your actions properly: persist and resist

Willingly accept what’s outside your control. Do what I can to fight  against the asshole,s that have control of this country.

“How many have laid waste to your life when you weren’t aware of what you were losing, how much was wasted in pointless grief, foolish joy, greedy desire, and social amusement- how little of your own was left to you. You will realize you are dying before your time!”

Saying no to things that don’t matter. Still feel the swell of anger every time I see or hear Trump. Clicking on the articles about his transition team and the choices being made on Facebook, I open the door and walk in. How much of my time am I going to allow this asshole to control. Of course I have committed myself to 366 days writing here. Set this time to deal with this and cut out rest of the day. That is what I hope do. I will take control and say no only on my terms.

“What is the fruit of these teachings? Only the most beautiful and proper harvest of the truly educated-tranquility, fearlessness, and freedom. We should not trust the masses who say only the free can be educated, but rather the lovers of wisdom who say that only the educated are free”     Epictetus, Discourses, 2.1.21-23a

A lot of bullshit flooded social media during this campaign. Most to backup Trump’s lies. It did not matter to his followers as truth meant nothing. They were not all uneducated so why did they vote for him? I know why the Republicans have been going after public schools with charter schools. Again the uneducated are easily led. It hasn’t happened everywhere yet so why Trump.

So I will continue to learn by reading and listening to a variety of ideas and philosophies. I can only hope that the educated are truly free.