19 Nov - 25 Nov 2018
Our new curtains were fitted on Friday which means that our renovation project is finally complete. It’s taken a lot longer than we ever initially thought but it’s gratifying and it was nice to check off a big goal for this year. Now to celebrate!
We got our Winter Village LEGO sets out this week and started planning our family displays. This year we’re doing some vignettes. The kids have made their own already, while my wife and I have started a joint one. Our plan is a Victorian house and street market. We’ll see how it goes.
It’s also the time of the year when we have our Beaver group sleepover. This years theme was Superheroes. We played games, and made lots of superhero themed crafts, as well as eat a ton of food. I think they all had fun, which is always the primary aim, and we’ve had some lovely comments from parents on Facebook already.
Reading Progress
I’m in the final few pages of Atomic Habits ready for our book club discussion on Tuesday next week. Overall, I’ve been really enjoying it.
I finished Gravity. It was an excellent read; well grounded in science and medical facts but also some great characterisation. I highly recommend reading it.
I’ve now started Sleepers by Lorenzo Carcaterra on the recommendation of my brother.
Stoic practice
I’ve found it a somewhat odd week in that I still reflect using the Daily Stoic and then I’m reading the question from the Daily Stoic Journal but answering it in my journal. It’s also been quite interesting to see my response from this time last year. I have signed up to a free course run by the Modern Stoicism group which runs for the next four weeks. I will likely deviate toward the exercises presented there.
A week in Stoicism
The practice this week has centred on our attachment to people and possessions. We are reminded that it’s these attachments which are often the foundation of our suffering. And so we must learn to let go. Try to appreciate what you have, for the time you have it. This is difficult to do, especially with people.
”Whenever you experience the pangs of losing something, don’t treat it like a part of yourself but as a breakable glass, so when it falls you will remember that and won’t be troubled. So, too, whenever you kiss your child, sibling or friend, don’t layer on top of the experience all the things you might wish, but hold them back and stop them, just as those who ride behind triumphant generals remind them they are mortal. In the same way, remind yourself that your precious one isn’t one of your possessions, but somethings given for now, not forever.” Epictetus
weeknotes