The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius (Modern Library). There is one translation of Marcus Aurelius to read and that is Gregory Hayes’s amazing edition for the Modern Library. Everything else falls sadly short. His version is completely devoid of any “thou’s” “arts” “shalls.” It’s beautiful and haunting. I’ve recommended this book to literally thousands o

notions of violence or masculinity. But of course Earhart shows that that isn’t true.

See things for what they are. Do what we can. Endure and bear what we must.

First, see clearly. Next, act correctly. Finally, endure and accept the world as it is.

We can see the “bad” things that happen in our lives with gratitude and not with regret because we turn them from disaster to real benefit—from defeat to victory.

Behind mountains are more mountains. Elysium is a myth. One does not overcome an obstacle to enter the land of no obstacles. On the contrary, the more you accomplish, the more things will stand in your way.

Instead of denying—or worse, fearing—our mortality, we can embrace it. Reminding ourselves each day that we will die helps us treat our time as a gift.

thinking about and being aware of our mortality creates real perspective and urgency. It doesn’t need to be depressing. Because it’s invigorating.

What would I change about my life if the doctor told me I had cancer?