Just why have I not watched *My Neighbor Totoro* before now?
Author: Stephen James
The sun rose just prior to 8am this morning, the first time since before the winter solstice.
The more I learn about Stoicism the more I get the sense that a lot of it is about bringing objectivity to bear on how we look at the world and ourselves.
And the more I realise how much people(ie me) allow the stories we tell ourselves to cloud our view.
I am running into more people I know that have either had Covid or had to isolate over the last month, than at any other time during the pandemic.
Various appointments or meet ups cancelled and several of my son’s classmates have had to take time off.
It feels like there is an inevitability to catching it sooner or later. Not fatalism, but rather mental preparation for being stuck at home when I’d rather not.
I followed the Ashes to a degree. The time difference plus the car-crash of a performance from England blunted my enthusiasm. If there was one positive to choose from, and there weren’t many, I’d say it was Mark Wood’s bowling. He just kept on running in. Whatever else was going on. So I’m glad he finally got his haul of wickets. He deserved it.
I just long for a properly contested Test. That actually runs into the fifth day. I shall dream…
Whether it’s books, TV series, blogging, or whatever, I am having to accept that my interest in something cycles. I always tell myself that consistency is what I ‘should’ aim for. But the reality is that I dive into something with enthusiasm for a time and then all motivation drains away.
Take, for example Robert Wright’s Why Buddhism is True. Started it months ago. Completely fascinated by what he has to say. Got half way through. Haven’t touched it now for maybe six weeks. I can’t muster the effort at the moment. But why was it so easy to start with?
I know I will return to it in due course. I’d like to learn to tell myself that’s just fine.
This arrived today. Spent some Christmas gift money. Pierre Hadot is often quoted by some of the more recent writers on Stoicism, particularly The Inner Citadel. I thought I’d better read it myself.
Took a trip over to Steart Marshes yesterday. Happened to be a bright dry day in among the grey and murky ones. A cold wind – cleared the head after spending a lot of time indoors. Walked out to the Breach.
Waders and wildfowl aplenty – lapwing, shelduck, redshank, curlew – but the highlight was a male hen harrier quartering the reed beds. I’ve only ever seen one before, years ago, and as a breeding species in the UK that is almost non-existent, to see a winter visitor was a real treat.
2021 has made me think all over again about what we are doing to this planet. And ourselves. About what really matters. I like this quote from Donald Robertson’s [How to think like a Roman Emperor](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39863499-how-to-think-like-a-roman-emperor?):
> ‘…to desire something is to imagine having what you don’t have, the presence of something that’s absent. Gratitude, on the other hand, comes from imagining the absence of things that are currently present: What would it be like if you didn’t have this? If we don’t occasionally picture loss, reminding ourselves what life might be like without the things and people we love, we would take them for granted.”
If this is the only thing that sticks in my sieve-like mind over the coming year, I’ll take it.
Our postponed trip to the coast went ahead today, complete with one perky dog – no after effects of his seizure in evidence.
Got a decent walk in, and good to get some fresh air after several days at home. Usually, the views from Selworthy Beacon are stunning. But…not today…
