Epicurus
As 2008 draws to a close, I've been thinking about what's happened to me over the past 12 months. In doing so, I can't seem to get my mind off of one of my favorite philosophers.
Epicurus lived in Samos, in Greece, in the 3rd and 4th Century BC. His philosophy of life, in its simplest form, boiled down to this:
In order to best honor this life, in order to best live a good life, one minimizes pain and fear and maximizes joy, love and friendship. It turns out, according to Epicurus, that one excellent way to maximize the amount of joy and love in one's life is to cultivate friendships. And about friendship, Epicurus wrote:
"It is not so much our friends' help that helps us as the confident knowledge that they will help us."
This has been a particularly complex and difficult year for me. But were it not for the confident knowledge that my friends would help me if I needed it, 2008 would have been a very bad year for me. But because of that confident knowledge that I have, 2008 turns out to be a very good year for me, despite all that has passed.
Having thought about this, it turns out that my resolution for 2009 and my wish for all Fermentation readers is the same.
THAT MORE FRIENDSHIPS ARE CULTIVATED.
Happy New Year
Hear, hear, Tom. With this kind of thinking we'll all have a great 2009!
Posted by: Eric | December 31, 2008 at 12:29 PM
Happy New Year!
I'm looking forward to dining with Tom and Mel Dick in mid-January!
Posted by: Joe Dressner | December 31, 2008 at 05:41 PM
Ringing in 2009 with Cava Tom. Happy New New Year!
Posted by: Nick | December 31, 2008 at 06:52 PM
Happy New Year, Tom!
Posted by: KenPayton | January 01, 2009 at 09:00 AM
Epicurus, as you no doubt know tom, strongly advised engaging in political action which leads to compromises and stresses that undermine tranquility. This is the unEpicurean component of your "difficult" life. I don't think Mr. E considered that friends can offset the pains of such engagement. And yet we must do what we must do.
Ideally, in the Epicurean approach, we take on challenges that we can handle. It's all about one's capacity and making a difference. Which means grappling with issues in one's immediate work or neighborhood environment (one's own "garden") with assistance of those friends.
Those interested in this philosophy should surf over to http://epicurus.info/.
Felicitations,
Epi
Posted by: Epicuria | January 01, 2009 at 09:43 AM
Happy New Year Tom
-- Philip
Posted by: Philip James | January 01, 2009 at 01:46 PM
Amen!
Posted by: J.C. Costo | January 02, 2009 at 10:45 AM
Happy New Year. Take care and take heart in '09.
Posted by: Dylan | January 03, 2009 at 11:57 AM
More & more people know that Blog are goods for every one where we can get more knowledge nice job keep it up !!!
Posted by: male enhancement | January 03, 2009 at 10:58 PM
That should be "... strongly advised ~against~ engaging in political action..."
Keep on truckin' Tom
Posted by: Epicuria | January 05, 2009 at 12:02 AM
Tom,
I could not agree more with your sentiments. At the end of the day, what we are left with are relationships - family, friends, neighbors, etc. It is from these that our days are hopefully enriched . . . .
Cheers!
Posted by: larry schaffer | January 05, 2009 at 07:16 AM
More & more people know that Blog are goods for every one where we can get more knowledge nice job keep it up !
Posted by: Male Enhancement | February 06, 2009 at 10:21 AM
SEO Consultant :
SEO | SEM | Internet Marketing Guide
http://www.wahidqazi.com/
Posted by: SEO Consultant | April 26, 2009 at 01:20 AM