Futurelawyer

There Is No Such Thing As A Little Thing

Execupundit.com: The Little Things. We have all heard the phrase: "Don't sweat the small stuff", followed by "It's all small stuff". The intention here is to imply that life's problems are diminutive. This is a corollary to the Stoic principle that there are no good things or bad things; but, only how we react to things. But, small stuff is still important, because it is the stuff of our daily lives, and we are the small stuff, in a very important way. So, keep doing the little things. Do them well. Do them often. And be in the present while you are doing them. That is way to live a life.

#WhyIAmASolo - I've Got It Better Than Superman

Yes, you heard me right. As Michael Connell, the Stoic comedian, says, Superman has a 9 to 5 soul sucking job with a boss that hates him, and living a lie. I can go home whenever I want, am my own boss, and I can fire clients who hate me. 

#WhyIAmASolo - Nobody Is Going To Ask Me "Where Do You See Yourself In Ten Years"?

Execupundit.com posted the trailer for the comedy movie, The Intern, and it begins with a twenty something asking a 70 year old job applicant: "Where do you see yourself in 10 years?" The laugh line is the response: 80? But, the post got me thinking, since I, too, am 71, and I think the question is bogus, no matter what age is asked. To live a happy life, we need to assume we won't make the next 24 hours; much less the next 24 years. We need to be in the present, mindful, and aware, if we want to be happy. Plan for old age, sure. But, don't dwell on it. Don't create scenarios of where you want to be in 10 years. You might not be there. And, don't ever take a job in which you have to answer the question to get hired. Now, go have some fun on your day off, and Happy Father's Day to all the fathers who sacrifice, scrimp, save, and wonder where their kids will be in ten years.

Inner Peace For Competitive Lawyers

Not Everyone Is A Good Person - So, Don't Expect Them To Be

It is amazing that, when we come upon an evil or dishonest or toxic person, we are surprised. As the philosophers tell us, there will be bad people, as long as there are people. So, get over it. Separate yourself from them, if you can. If you can't, tolerate them, because they are here whether you like it or not. Get on with your happy life. I always tell myself that, without such people, the world would have no need of lawyers. 

 

Two Weeks To Live - So?

This cartoon suggests that a terminal diagnosis of two weeks to live is somehow a bad thing. Why wait until the two weeks are up to jump off a mountain? Why wear a parachute? In fact, we all have a finite time to live. We just don't know whether it is two weeks or two years of two minutes. We can't afford to wait until the last minute to live; even if we know when it is coming. So, get out there and live today. Memento Mori.

Neither Philosophy Nor Empire...

I was very angry this morning. A new roof on the office, which was supposed to take 2 to 3 days, has been going over 3 weeks. My bank held some deposits I made, and I need to pay some bills. I cried for days when SWMBO died. I get tears in my eyes these days watching TV and movies. Are my emotions weaknesses? Do they interfere with my ability to enjoy my life? For a moment, yes. But, I am happy to have those emotions. Without them I would be a sorry human being. As I was quelling my anger this morning, arguing to myself that anger is irrational, since it solves nothing, and only hurts me, I thought about my favorite Stoic, Marcus Aurelius, and a quote attributed to Antoninus:

"It is related of him, too, as an instance of his regard for his family, that when Marcus [Aurelius] was mourning the death of his tutor and was restrained by the palace servants from this display of affection, the Emperor [Antoninus Pius] said: "Let him be only a man for once; for neither philosophy nor empire takes away natural feeling". 

^{Never let your philosophy nor your empire or aspirations take away your natural feeling.}

        

There Is No Such Thing As A Bad Thing

It%u2019s Not As Unfortunate As It Seems. Days off are good days to reflect on our lives and law practices. Lost you last trial? Lost a spouse? Had a bad day? Got cut off in traffic? Poor baby. Did these events cause you to change from a good person to a bad person? Did you all of a sudden go around robbing or killing people? Of course not. You either obsessed on your bad fortune, or you got on with your life. I only discovered this truth when I experienced the death of a spouse. I realized that I had wasted much of my life worrying or obsessing when things didn't go my way. Anything that doesn't harm your character is indifferent to you. Of course, some things, like a loving spouse, are preferred parts of our lives. But, even those tragedies are indifferent to whether we change our character. You still are in control of your person, and that puts you in control of your fate. Now, get out there and live your life the best way you know how.

Take It Slow, Joe. There's Plenty Of Time To Die.

Execupundit.com: The Slow Time. Why are we in such a hurry to die? We rush around every day, from appointment to appointment, hearing to hearing, trial to trial, and the ultimate destination is death. Don't be in a hurry to get out of this life. Take it slow, Joe. Michael Wade gets it right. Slow is better. It permits the enjoyment of the process. Getting "more" done faster is a fool's errand. Slow down. You move too fast.

Just Keep Moving

I do occasionally agree with celebrities. They aren't all airheads. This one is good advice for anyone who is experiencing the pains of aging. It is also a reason I will never retire. I have many retired friends. And, I love all of them. They all seem to be keeping moving, and that is a good thing. If you are retired, do something challenging every day. You'll live longer.

"The way I deal with arthritis is to keep moving. As long as I can play hard tennis, as long as I can ski or ride a horse - all kinds of things can come your way. As long as you can, do it. People who retire die. My dad retired and died shortly after. Just keep moving."

- Robert Redford (B - 1936)

American actor and founder of the Sundance Film Festival