The Glass Is Already Broken

The Daily Stoic for November 22nd, “The Glass Is Already Broken”.

“Fortune falls heavily on those for whom she’s unexpected. The one always on the lookout easily endures.”

—SENECA, ON CONSOLATION TO HELVIA, 5.3

What a powerful concept! When I first read today’s stoic, I was a little bit depressed. However, after thinking about it, I realized it’s a very liberating tought. But I digress…

The idea is the following: consider that everything you have is no longer there. It’s already broken. So if (when?) it disappears, you won’t be shocked. There will be no pain or grief.

The Glass Is Already Broken

I don’t consider myself attached to physical stuff. Yes, I have my computer, I definitely love my iPad Pro, and not really much more. But those things are completely remplazable. Since I finished the decluttering project and got rid of most of my stuff to become a digital nomad, I learned to let go my emotional ties with the objects I used to own. The hardest one was definitely the piano.

But it worked. I can’t think of a single object right now that I really need. Obviously, if lost, I would replace my MacBook to be able to continue working.

Hence, thinking that those things are already broken, or lost, or out of my reach is not dramatic at all. Now, what about other things? The daily stoic focuses on physical stuff, but there’s more that can break…

Well, recent events have shown me that you cannot take certain things, like your health, for granted. That works for me now. I feel grateful every day for being well and feeling alive.

However, there’s one thing that would be more difficult for me: my partner and close family. The ones I love. I know nothing is forever, not even love, but I don’t want to think how I would feel if my relationship ended, or somebody from my close family died. Perhaps thinking that would make me appreciate the time I spent with them better.

Conclusion

Today’s Daily Stoic, “The Glass Is Already Broken”, discusses a fascinating concept: considering things we own or have in our lives are “broken”, so if we lose them, we are already ready to accept that.