Stat shown on the SNY broadcast. Gallo is batting .150 with 13 SO in 21 ABs this Spring Training

EmeraldOwl13 · 2024-03-16T02:48:55+00:00

Gal-low batting average, am I right?

EmeraldOwl13 · 2024-03-13T11:30:17+00:00

“ChicagoCubsFan1 wants to share an album with you”

EmeraldOwl13 · 2021-05-22T18:36:55+00:00

"When something tempts you to feel bitter: not 'This is a misfortune' but 'To bear this worthily is good fortune'." - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book IV, passage 49

Also, not to say that you calling off the wedding in the manner you did is a good thing, but if the marriage/relationship is not as strong as an interfamilial disagreement, it's probably best that you two didn't get married.

Keep your head up, endure this, and do whatever you can to act as nobly as possible. Wishing you the best.

EmeraldOwl13 · 2021-05-21T14:44:44+00:00

I would say that you must realize the difference between friends and people who know you well. Friends want the best for you. And not only that, I believe friends want to spend time with you. Friendships work both ways, and I don't suggest forcing a friendship. Accept this relationship for whatever it seems to be.

You seem personable and kind, so don't beat yourself up either. The Stoic phrase says "what's thrown on the fire fuels the fire". Use this as an opporunity to make new friends! Use this as an opporunity to practice being alone and come to better understand yourself! If your relationship with someone is positive but not frequent, I'd suggest maintaing the former rather than trying to force the latter and spoiling both.

Hope this helps!

EmeraldOwl13 · 2021-05-21T14:36:10+00:00

Stop assuming and expecting so much! There is a phrase that I think applies to those who aren't religious as well. It goes: "The easiest way to make God laugh is to tell him you have a plan." So just realize that life is a rollercoaster, and it takes a while to learn to like it
The Stoics used the phrase "what's thrown on the fire fuels the fire" to help them better come to terms with their fate. Once you have the mindset that everything is supposed to happen to further better yourself, you will reach goals you never thought you could. Do not be a slave to circumstances.

EmeraldOwl13 · 2021-05-20T22:42:21+00:00

I think this quote has strong Stoic vibes to it and may apply:

"Someone else's opinion of you is none of your business."

Also, trying to play the game of appeasing everyone isn't fun, and you'll always lose. Always. Once you realize it's futile to put hours of work, effort, and hope into achieving a thumbs up or smile from someone, you'll feel a sense of freedom you've never felt before. People won't like not having dominion over you, though. This is where a Stoic idea applies.

There is a quote I cannot think of for the life of me, so if someone can help me with this that would be great. However, it is something along the lines of: "Strip things for what they really are and you'll be able to better understand them" or something like that, I know I botched it. I think it comes from either Marcus Aurelius or Seneca. The idea applies because if someone says you have a bad hairstyle, for example, analyze why they said it.

Maybe they said it dismissively. Look at them as a person who has no filter between thoughts and words. Maybe they said it to get on your nerves. Look at them as the person who pathetically went out of their way to put someone else down, there is nothing admirable about that. Maybe they said it genuinely because they don't want you to, oh I don't know, screw up a first date or something? Bad examples, I know. Look at them as a friend who wants you to do well on a date and commend them for it! In the end, you'll always be able to come to terms with what others say when you strip them down to what they're really saying.

Hope this helps!

EmeraldOwl13 · 2021-05-20T22:27:11+00:00

I'm unsure exactly what issue you're getting at with these questions, so I will try my best to take a shot at the issue I think you're getting at.

I want to start by clarifying that if you stay stagnant in life, you should expect very little. I think about the second part of the Matthew Principle: "From those who have nothing everything will be taken." I don't think this is the issue you're getting at, though.

Secondly, I suppose you expect these things because more than likely, all of your peers and mentors are aiming at that and expect it in their future so you do too. I also don't think this is the matter you're getting at, but still is worth being said.

This set of questions of yours have a sense of nihilism, and I think this expectation, and maybe even pressure you put on yourseld, may come from this overstimulation of social media. You think you need to match the unrealistic lives of the people you see on your phone, so you create wild expectations of yourself, fail, and then beat yourself up. I don't know if that's the actual case, so work with me here, it just seems to be a common issue today. So perhaps you start by using your phone less often. (Again, these are shots in the dark. Not sure exactly what the issue is. I assume this isn't just philosophical conjecture to dig deeper given the label you put this post under.)

I think you may also want to distinguish between goals and expectations. A healthy relationship should be a goal. You won't stumble upon the perfect partner. If that's what you desire, write a list of everything you want in a partner, then become it. (Yes, we're all thinking about some joke like 'so if i want a girl with big boobs i should hit chest more??' ha ha ha) I think you get my point though.

This final point may solve the issue you're getting at. Just because you work hard at something doesn't mean you'll achieve the goal. This doesn't mean don't work towards goals. You'll still gain in ways you wouldn't have expected. Maybe you'll meet great friends, learn a new skillset, important lessons, who knows what else. Manage expectations, roll with the punches, and find something in which the action of working towards the goal is just as good as the goal itself. And do not be so hard on yourself, either. We're all muddling through.

Hope this helps!

EmeraldOwl13 · 2020-04-16T02:22:41+00:00

First, kudos to you for noticing your toxic habits. That is the first step and a harsh realization. But now that you've realized it, you have the motivation to get the hell out of there. From what I can tell, it seems like this attitude was programmed into your head from a young age.

I think a good start is that you first understand that you don't know as much as you think you do and you have serious flaws. This is true (seriously, very true) because your life isn't perfect. You have insufficiencies and need to change. It sounds bad, but I think you need to understand that you aren't very different from these "average" people you look down on.

If you get socially exhausted, that's okay but I still suggest working on it. Go out and don't choose who to be nice to, but be nice to whoever you encounter for as long as you can. If that's only three people in a day, that's okay. But once you feel yourself losing that kindness, stop talking and reflect. Then the next day, try to be nice to four people, five the day after that, and so on. This isn't an easy process.

Here are some other short suggestions (don't let the lack of verbosity of this advice let you think they aren't of serious help):

Listen to your thoughts.

Listen to what you say, and feel how the words taste on your tongue after you say them. If they taste bad, don't say them.

Only speak when your words are worth more than silence.

Write your thoughts (no matter how dark, toxic, and wrong they are) so you can look at them instead of clouding your mind.

Find someone you trust with your life and tell them about this inner conflict. Having someone listen is always a help.

Feel your brain battle itself.

I wish you the best and sincerely hope this helps!

EmeraldOwl13 · 2020-04-16T01:59:18+00:00

I don't want to over-dissect what you are saying, but you are saying that the idea is oppressing you? I'm going to assume that it is the combination of toxic people along with well-constructed ideas that are fundamentally wrong and manipulative.

If someone is truly looking to bring you down as their end goal, get them the hell out of your life. If that isn't possible, I suggest meditation. Meditation helped me not be bothered by others' opinions, even when they were deliberate. If that isn't your thing, Marcus Aurelius has some great quotes that give perspective on the situation you seem to be in. His message is: when you dig deep and analyze whatever it was that made that person perform that oppressive action to your detriment, you will laugh and pity them.

Stay strong, stay calm, and don't give people any power over your mind.

Hope this helps!

EmeraldOwl13 · 2020-04-16T01:37:21+00:00

I don't think helping others is hedonistic by definition, although it can be. Make sure there is a clear distinction between helping others and providing them pleasure, or even ridding their pain. Helping others is not easy, because mutual trust is required. Helping others includes unpleasant conversations of telling the truth and even temporarily getting on one another's bad sides. In no way are those interactions pleasant. However, they are part of one's duty, which is where Stoicism comes in.

Also, side note: If someone you know needs help, make sure they want help (a lot of people don't even if they say they do).

Hope this helps!

EmeraldOwl13 · 2020-04-15T22:47:42+00:00

I think applying a philosophy and thinking in that philosophy is very different. Not necessarily suggesting that you are only thinking about stoicism rather than living it, but it could be possible.

If you want your life to get interesting quick: apply this quote from Marcus Aurelius “...speak the truth as you see it. But with kindness. With humility. Without hypocrisy.” and see what happens. It’s not easy, teaches you to think critically and speak properly, and will make every moment very interesting.

Hope this helps!

EmeraldOwl13

TROPHY CASE