Sit·u·a·tion: a set of circumstances in which one finds oneself; a state of affairs.
Dear you,
My oh my, we are all in perplexing situations. Whatever they may be, the king of stoicism suggests the following:
Marcus Aurelius: "It stares you in the face. No role is so well suited to philosophy as the one you happen to be in right now."
What is my current role? A few: citizen, annoyed/amused Florida condo owner, feminist-lioness, cat-lady, exercise lover, and eternal student. Suited philosophies? Aurelian stoicism (face it), Aristotelian "push" (just do it), Epicurus (eat, drink and be merry because . . . you know the rest).
All these thinkers, if sitting on a what-should-Joyce-do panel, might suggest the following: If an old, orange man says he will be my 'daddy' whether I like it or not, stay calm, tell him to fuck off, and have a cocktail. If a random condo "manager" lies and mucks things up at my Villas, stay calm, tell him to fuck off, and have a cocktail. If a sad local is ranting about how women are wrecking the country by being all "free", stay calm, tell him to fuck off, and have a cocktail. If someone hustling for money suggests you sign on to a shady contract (be it a phone deal, condo agreement, or ubiquitous streaming forever-binding document), stay calm, tell her/him to fuck off, and have a cocktail.
You know, each of those things happened to me today already. If I acted as advised, I would have exceeded my daily F-bomb limit and be ripping-tipsy. And it's only 4 P.M. But at least I would be very, very calm.
Perhaps I'll cut the "fuck-offs" and just elegantly face "it" (whatever the situation is), do something productive, and eat, drink, and be merry. I am NOT cutting the cocktails.
What is your role, dear you, what are your philosophies? Good luck, in any and all situations. Especially the ones we are in today. Keep calm and carry on.
Love,
Joyce
