Never Complain, Never Explain

The Daily Stoic for November 14th, “Never Complain, Never Explain”.

“Don’t allow yourself to be heard any longer griping about public life, not even with your own ears!”

—MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 8.9

I’m writing the Daily Stoic for November the thirteen today, the fourteenth. Yesterday I was not able to write anything stoic.

This is the first time that happens to me. While I usually write the daily stoic on a daily basis, I sometimes write it quickly and decide to leave it for review before publishing it. Not that my editing skills are amazing, but anyhow… Yesterday, I couldn’t write anything.

Never Complain, Never Explain

In the Spanish culture, Tuesday the 13th is our bad luck day. It’s akin to Friday the 13th for the anglo-saxon culture. I’m not a superstitious man, but yesterday, the day honored its infamous reputation.

As you may know, I recently went through a severe infection that took me to the hospital in Riga. Back in Spain, I took the chance to do some medical tests.

I mad one of those tests some weeks ago. It was a very painful procedure that lasted for around two hours. Not only it was painful then, but I was bleeding for two days and felt pain for more than a week afterwards.

Yesterday, they called me from the hospital. Apparently, they have lost the results, or they cannot be used because they are corrupt. Whatever the case, I need to go back again to the hospital and repeat the test.

The call paralyzed me. I could not believe it. My first feeling was rejection. I simply could not accept that. Then it was anger and fear. The mere thought of having to go back to that hospital room and repeat the test killed me. I was shaking, and could not sleep that night.

As I could not talk about my feelings, I would like to discuss them in today’s stoic (the 14th).

Conclusion

I missed today’s Daily Stoic, “Never Complain, Never Explain”, and actually wrote it the following day. The reason? A dreadful call from the hospital.