It's a Classical Life

  Last week I resigned from my teaching job. I didn't just resign from this particular job, I resigned from teaching altogether. It was a decision that I have been toying with for over two years, and the timing felt right. I will see out the year, until Christmas, and then I will be starting a whole new chapter in my life in 2023. The truth is, I am excited about not knowing what lies in ahead. I know it's a very risky time to be leaving a steady job with a good income, but I feel - after much discernment - that this is the right thing for me.  You may be wondering how this week's quote by Tolstoy aligns with my thoughts above. I'd like to explain. When I began teaching, I had that noble hope to "light candles" and "illuminate the hearts" of my students. I had a passion in me to share what I knew about History and Languages - a passion that had been placed there by other, amazing teachers. However, recently I have been losing that passion to pass on

  November and December are my favourite times of year, and yet I find myself starting to worry about the year ahead. I ask questions like - should I keep working in the job that I am in? Are we making the right decision about such-and-such? Will we be alright financially? What about emotionally? I tend to ruin this favourite time of year with all of my worries, most of which are pointless and as Epictetus points out, everything that happens will be good and useful for me.   This is such a wonderful quote to remember when our fears for the future are starting to run away from us. It reminds us to focus on the present and accept what comes as being the best possible thing for us (as hard as that may be to believe sometimes). Epictetus reminds us that some concern for the future is fine, we should plan and be prepared, but by being overly concerned or worrying unnecessarily then we are missing out on the best parts of today.  It also helps us to face our future with a level of acceptance

  This week I've been reading Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet and there is so much wisdom in this book that we can draw from to find fulfilment in our modern lives. Although written in 1923 and set in the fictional, island town of Orphalese, the prophet Al Mustafa is addressing the people of the island, with whom he has lived for some 12 years. The advice that the people ask him to share before he leaves them, is timeless and inspiring to us even today.  I love the quote above that reminds us to consider what exactly we use our homes for, and how we view them. Of course, we want them to be places of comfort, but more importantly than that they should offer us peace, the warm memories of time spent well together and the beautiful steps to a more fulfilling life, outside of material possessions.  In our age of home decor and all that that encompasses (think shops with ever-changing decor options, shows that tell us how to decorate, not to mention the apps and social media that do th