January: On Existence 

January 30

Today's reflection was inspired by a quote from Marcus Aurelius' Meditations.

Isn’t it pretty to think that your life is unique? That you are a one-of-a-kind individual whose experiences and perception of world events around you are yours alone?

The truth is you’re not all that unique. Nor are your experiences. No one is. We’re all made up of the same biology. We all have similar thoughts, dreams, hopes, fears. 

And everything that is happening in the world has already happened in one way, shape, or form, and will continue to happen into the future long after you're gone. 

And everything that you feel has been felt by humans before you and will be felt by those who come after. 

But there is a profound comfort in knowing that your experiences and the local and global events you live through are nothing special. It is a reminder that you’re not alone in whatever it is you’re going through.

It is a reminder that we are all connected.

• Reflection title: Time Is a Flat Circle
• Creative inspiration: Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
• Reflection Question: How can I remind myself that the present is also both the past and the future?