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Epictetus’ Manual

Of existing things some are in our power,
others not in our power.
In our power are conception, effort, desire, aversion
and in a word whatever are our actions;
but not in our power are the body, property, reputation,
rulers and in a word whatever are not our actions.

Also things in our power are by nature
free, unhindered, unimpeded,
but things not in our power are
weak, slavish, hindered, belonging to others.

So remember, that if
what is by nature slavish you think free
and what is others’ your own,
you will be hindered, you will mourn, you will be disturbed,
and you will blame both gods and humans,
but if you think only yours is yours,
and another’s, just as it is, another’s,
no one will ever compel you, no one will hinder you,
you will not blame anyone, nor accuse someone,
not one thing will you do unwilling,
no one will harm you, you will have no enemy,
for you will suffer no harm from anyone.

So aiming at such great things, remember that
it is not necessary moderately moving to take hold of them,
but to give up some things completely,
and carry over others for the present.

Even if you intend these things
and to rule and be wealthy,
perhaps you may not bring about these latter
because of also aiming at the former,
and you may fail to get these,
by which alone freedom and happiness are gained.

So at once practice saying to every disturbing impression,
“You are an impression and not the complete manifestation.”
Then examine it and test it by these rules which you have,
first and foremost of which is this:
whether it concerns things in our power or not in our power;
and if it does not concern something in our power,
let the reason for that be handy, “It is nothing to me.”

http://www.geocities.com/westhollywood/heights/4617/stoic/epictetus2.html

I have read Epictetus while crosing the same adventure, though, in reality, it was my hubby’s !!!

As he was 55 years old, he couldn’t expect to find quickly an equivalent situation, the Cies don’t hire elders here, cuz they are afraid that they get some sort of heart breaks and alike… and the main raison is that they don’t want to pay high salaries when they can have plenty of youngs for much lower wages.

Anyway, I pushed him to sell our house, to buy us a small business, of which I am the manager, while he could still get his unemployment rente paid ; though we weren’t in a hurry, cuz the unemployeds get insurance rentes here, and as he was more than 55 he wasn’t pushed ahead to find whatever job, knowing that they are rare for the alike ages.

Now, he is a lucky retiree, but I still have got to work !!!!!

also the book “A man in full”, from Tom Wolfe, is quite approaching the purpose of this topic :

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0374270325/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books