I was deployed to Iraq in the summer of 2017. While there, there were long stretches of inactivity during which I occupied my mind and maintained my sanity by reading. I found a particular fondness for reading philosophy, specifically the works of the Stoics. I read the ancient Stoics like Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus, while also diving into some modern Stoics like Holiday and Pigliucci. Among other things (likely to be discussed in subsequent posts) one of the exercises practiced by both Modern and Ancient stoics alike was journaling. Meditations itself was Marcus Aurelius’ journal.
I chose to begin journaling, not simply in the “Dear Diary, this is what I did today…” sense, but with a constant eye to being a better Stoic and, ideally, better person. My Stoic Journaling, turning into the idea that at least some of my entries may, someday, help others. If not, then I lose nothing, as I am still journaling. But if I can turn someone else on to Stoicism, or just philosophy in general, or if I can make someone laugh via my philosopher wanna-be raving, then I will be gratified in having done so.
That brings me to an important point. I may have a blog in which I am reflecting on events in my life and thought in my head from a philosophical perspective, but I am not, nor do I even remotely consider myself a philosopher or a stoic. At best, I am an aspiring Stoic with a blog and just enough narcissism to write on it, but I am the farthest thing from what the Stoics called a “Sage.”
Credit where credit is due, there will be a huge portion of this blog taken from “The Daily Stoic,” “The Daily Stoic Journal” (especially many of the actual writing prompts), as well as a multitude of texts, podcasts, and blogs about stoicism. I will do my best to cite sources and give credit where it is deserved, but I beg the reader’s indulgence if I ever fall short in this regard.