“He can’t serve in the military? Let him seek public office. Must he live in the private sector? Let him be a spokesperson. Is he condemned to silence? Let him aid his fellow citizens by silent public witness. Is it dangerous to enter the Forum? Let him display himself, in private homes, at public events and gatherings, as a good associate, faithful friend, and moderate tablemate. Has he lost the duties of a citizen? Let him exercise those of a human being.”
SENECA, ON TRANQUILITY OF MIND, 4.3
There are many different avenues by which we might participate in our community, many different ways to serve. We are not locked into one particular way to help, nor a specific and defined method by which we must contribute. The possibilities are endless, and myriad.
Further, as individuals we are flexible enough to be able to adapt not only to our own personal preferences, but to what is needed. If we can’t serve the people around us in a particular way, there are many other ways to explore. As Stoics, we are asked to be resilient, and part of resilience is flexibility. We adapt to what is needed in the moment, and we do it with a sense of duty, gratitude — and serious joy!
At the end of today’s quote in The Daily Stoic, Seneca says that if we run out of options or ideas, to just focus on being a decent human being. Surely we can remember how to do that. Just be a human, and be real. Because there’s always a way to serve.
