he buried too many children he saw plagues and flood and War he was betrayed by those closest to him he was surrounded by the corrupt and the inept and the endlessly ambitious while critics are wrong to call Marcus Aurelius depressing or negative he was unquestionably in pain tired and frustrated this was a man who quite understandably found himself as we all do tired of life yet despite the role that suicide had played in the history of stoicism and the more accepted place it had in Roman history Marcus did not choose that route he did not
blame anyone he did not resent the hand he was dealt or the painful cards he had to play he soldiered on he found respit in physical activity and his work he tried as we talked about recently to focus on the beauty amid the ugliness of life he was brave enough to ask for help as we have also talked about Marcus aelius not only kept getting out of bed each morning but he pushed himself to do it early he reminded himself in those very same pages of meditations the reasons why he was here on this planet
what his nature demanded of him what his duty was he carried on and found relief and purpose and even joy in this no matter who you are or what you're going through the same thing is available to you inside your soul Marcus Aurelius would remind you there is peace that you can Retreat to anytime you like it's okay that you're tired it's understandable and perfectly acceptable just use the resources available to you most of all stick around
