On the patio this morning. First time this spring I could start my morning outside. I sense something to my left. Last time it was a bear. A turkey comes over the hill. It's cold. But good. So's the coffee. Just me and her. She flips over some leaves with her feet.

I've been heads down in a few projects the last couple of weeks. It's been a lot of fun, learning, and mornings with no alarm clocks. Funny how when you are having fun you don't need them.

I tried to put the work down to do a little reading and reviewing. Old me set up a morning email that sends me highlights from books I've read.

This is the third time Seneca has come my way this week, so maybe that means something. Letters from a Stoic is one of my most highlighted (231!) books. I read through them again and picked a few that jumped out.

"greatness develops only at long intervals."

If there is one lesson I hope the kids pick up, it's that mastering their craft will take a long time. Hopefully their craft won't require an alarm. That jump-out-of-bed-and-get-after-it feeling.

"lighten your baggage for the march."

Things. Ideas. Emotions. Memories. Fears. We don't need to keep them in our rucksack. If it's not helpful, leave them on the side of the road.

"And as long as nothing satisfies you, you yourself cannot satisfy others."

I like this word "satisfaction." People talk about being happy. I'm interested in being satisfied. Getting to a point where you can be at peace with who you are, who you have, and what you have.

"If you live according to nature, you will never be poor; if you live according to opinion, you will never be rich."

Satisfaction probably never comes if I'm worried about what other people think.

"we suffer more often in imagination than in reality."

Worry is just time travel and imagination.

I hope you get a nice morning outside with your favorite warm something.

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