I can live a big YES to the adventure of my life by pursuing knowledge continually and being willing to explore new domains, like lucid dreaming and vision quests, so that I can grow spiritually through direct experience of transcendence.

I can show up as my best self where I am now and with what I already have by being open to sharing insights I have gained through my life experiences, helping others to grow in wisdom during their own journeys.

Memories of the times I have struggled and thought I would never get through it and then came through in the end sustain me because they remind me that I will also get through whatever I am going through now.

I can cultivate peace in the midst of chaotic moments by focusing on things I can change and working on them, while accepting what I can’t change and learning not to worry about what is beyond my control.

I want to open my heart to my dad again, but I feel like trust has been breached between us. I’m able to survive around him, but part of me can’t stand his guts. I would like to open my heart to him again, but I don’t know if I’m there yet.

I’ve had people thank me for being kind to them. Right now, I am working as a substitute teacher, and I’ve had students tell me that they appreciate that I am nice to them because other substitutes have been rude or inconsiderate to them. I also have had one person tell me I saved her from suicide without knowing it.

The fact that I am inside my house right now is a miracle. It took billions of years of evolution to go from chemical elements to stars and planets to life to humans to the industrial revolution, which was necessary to create the kind of house I live in. My house is an element of the universes ever-increasing thresholds of complexity.

I’ve been out of shape lately, but I was able to run at my 10K pace without stopping for about 2 miles during my workout today.

I was listening to a podcast recently that mentioned the book, Being Better by Kai Whiting. The book is about how to apply ancient Stoic philosophy into your life in a modern context. I know the ancient Stoics are known for their emotional intelligence and resilience, so perhaps this should be the next book on my reading list so I can gain some tips on how to face problems with courage.

The hands that have picked the plants that make up the food I eat have made it so I can have good clean food on my plate. I have never met those who have harvested my food, but it is good to remember those who have put in labor so that we can put food on the table.

Being mortal allows me to be grateful for each day I spend on earth in such a way that I use every moment wisely.

Aliveness is just existing. Liveliness is a life of joy, service to others, deep relationship with the Universe, and an ongoing process of growth in knowledge and wisdom.

Today, I could share some of the lessons I’ve learned from Stoicism on social media. For example, I could share that the Stoics taught that we should not worry about matters that are out of our control. Instead, we can focus on what we do have control over, which is our thoughts.

I read a book on near-death experiences just before my great grandpa’s funeral. At the time, I was worried there is nothing after death, but this book brought me some comfort just before his funeral so I could find the funeral comforting, rather than dreadful.

The presence of my mom, my dog, and my cat bring about a beaming smile for me.

I have a book called Humankind: A Hopeful History, which uses actual scientific and historical evidence to argue that human nature is generally good. I haven’t read it all yet, but I am fascinated to see how this book might help sustain my faith in humanity.

If I thought this day might be my last, I would write an autobiography to give one last testimony of the wisdom I have gained over the years, and I would give any money I had in the bank that wouldn’t go to student loans to social justice organizations.

It took billions of years to go from the Big Bang to the wood that makes up the floor my feet are standing on. Through gradual increases in complexity and a slow evolutionary process, the amazing beauty of a tree ended up creating this wood!

I always feel gratitude when I receive an unexpected gift card or other gift from someone at times like graduation or birthdays.