“The art of living is more like wrestling than dancing, because an artful life requires being prepared to meet and withstand sudden and unexpected attacks.”
MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 7.61
The “dance of life”? That’s too easy — and life ain’t easy like that.
It’s more like the fight of your life! Because life has direct challenges, battles to be won, attacks to withstand. It’s nothing as simple as dancing.
You have to be tough and strong. You will come under siege from all quarters. It’s less about flowing and floating, and more about holding on to the mast so you aren’t swept overboard.
Sometimes you’ll have to take some ugly hits. You might have to grit it out, and just survive, at times. Stoicism is for life, and that’s also what it prepares you for: the fight of your life.
