“The obstacle is the way.” It’s based on a quote from Marcus Aurelius. He said, “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” It’s a way of reframing difficulties. Basically, if you’re on the path to a specific destination (metaphorical or real), and you encounter a roadblock, then that roadblock is now a part of the path. Whether you choose to go over / under / around it, or you’re forced to take a detour, you have no choice but to face it.
I learned this concept from Ryan Holiday’s book The Obstacle is the Way, which I’ve read thrice now (I’ve waited so long to use that word). I love the idea that what others would label an annoyance, inconvenience, or in some cases, a game-ender, Stoicism reframes as a crucial part of the journey. It forces one to pause, reflect, and make a decision.
And so I got it inked on my arm along with symbols for the four cardinal virtues of Stoicism: Courage, Discipline, Wisdom, and Justice.
Okay, on to less intense and serious stuff.
A couple of weeks ago, I was dragged on a trip to Gatlinburg by my Campfire Queen. I didn’t go kicking and screaming, but there was a lot of silence and brooding.
I’m a bit of a homebody.
It was a holiday weekend, so there were more people than I care to ever see again… ever. It was crowded. It was noisy. But the mountains were beautiful, and we got to see a bear outside our cabin.
Bonus.
Let’s see… what else?
I’m technically 3 for 6 on my full moon photos for the year. The weather has not been cooperative. I did get a nice clear photo of the Strawberry Moon (the full moon of June) the night before it was at full luminosity. It was at 98.4% of full brightness, so I’ll count that as a win. The actual night of full brightness was met with heavy cloud cover, but I did get a creepy-cool shot of it peaking out from behind the clouds.
I also started working on my new desk. It has a live edge and is going to look all manly and rustic in my office. I plan to do a full office makeover this summer. It’s going to give off rustic / nerd / Starbucks vibes.
And, lastly, bonus dog photos.
Until next time, ‘ver heil ok sæl’.
ᚢᛖᚱ ᚺᛖᛁᛚ ᛟᚲ ᛊᛇᛚ
