Honour - a prized possession



Honour is man's most prized possession - without it, life is not worth living. Make sure you don't lose it.

Choose Deeds Over Appearance

How much time do we as people spend on our outward appearances? Shaves, haircuts, fashion, Make-up.

 

How much time, care and attention do we give daily to what we do for others?

 

Your deeds are more important than your looks.

 





The Truly Rich Man

The man who adapts himself to his slender means and makes himself wealthy on a slender sum, is the truly rich man.

 

Rich is a very subjective term. Status anxiety causes us to want more and more, while getting less and less true satisfaction.

 

If we take a Spartan approach to life, clothing for warmth not brands, food for sustenance, not hedonism, a home for shelter over extravagance, then we can surely be rich no matter what our income.



The Might of Right



Right is mightier than a thousand men at arms. When we stand up for what is right, even alone and unarmed, we are stronger, not physically, but morally.

 

Our moral integrity and honour shines through when we stand for what's right, instead of what's the law.

 

Even now in China, students are fighting for what's right against a militaristic Government that bring force upon those that question their rule.

 

Throughout history, right has proven mightier than a thousand men at arms.

Conduct



In all things, let us conduct ourselves so that all men wish to be our friends and all fear to be our enemies.

 

I know it's not politically correct and feminists may baulk at it, but men should carry a Chivalric code in all they do. We should be respectful, helpful, mind our language and our manners. Give respect to get respect.

 

At the same time our conduct, body language and speech should let people know, making an enemy of us is not a good idea.

 

Be the best friend they would ever want and the worst enemy, if they choose to make that choice.

Maslows Hierarchy of Needs

 



Physiological needs are about having the right nutrition and water, access to fresh air, enough rest and exercise.

Safety needs are about security and feeling safe – physically and emotionally, the need to have shelter/a home and to have stability in one’s life.

Belongingness and love and are to do with others, the social side of feeling that you belong, are connected, loved and included.

Esteem needs concerns inner self – having feelings of achievement, being recognised, having power over one’s life and being a person different from another person.

Self-actualization is to do with achieving one’s full potential, being creative and finding that specialness of oneself.



Three questions

1. Who am I?
2. Why am I here?
3. What do I want?



Meaning



People haven't found meaning in their lives, so they're running all the time trying to find it

 

People are racing through life, as kids were soon asked what do we want to do when we grow up? Society pressures us to get a job. Certain jobs carry societal prestige, while other jobs disdain.

 

The pressure to be rich, or at least as the middle class have found, the appearance of being rich, is a noose round our necks.

 

We rush through life for the better job, better career, build portfolios of qualifications or find ways to increase our bank accounts to levels far greater than need demands, in order to find meaning in a society that values wealth and status above all.

 

With all that running, we don't get time to stop and admire the beauty in the world. We don't get time to find true meaning in our lives.

 

Time to stop running.

The Bare Necessities



Life's necessities are cheap and easily obtainable.

 

Water - we do not need alcohol, carbonated drinks, tea or coffee to survive. Water will suffice.

 

Food - A plain balanced and sensible diet will sustain us. We do not need restaurants and take outs. Fast foods and processed foods do nothing for our bodies. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables to your hearts content, it will do no harm.

 

Clothing - clothing should be considered the body's armour. A brand logo does not make a T shirt any better than the exact equivalent without the logo. Clothes are to hide our modesty and keep us warm, nothing more.

 

Shelter - This can be a tent, a river boat, caravan, flat, house mansion. Shelter needs to be protection from the elements. Shelter as a need is not something to show off and keep up with the Joneses. 

Nothing Matters

I'm a workaholic. I can't sit still, I have to be doing something productive, I get bored easily, the whole bent of my entire life is to be working.

 

Than can change in a moment.

 

My teenage daughter came home late. Two hours late. At 10pm I was frantically trying to find ways of finding her. At 11pm she knocked on the door and blamed me for 'overreacting'.

 

You can never know that feeling of panic until your child doesn't get home when expected.

 

But in that moment, all my work, my goals, passions, dreams and aspirations were resigned to the dustbin of life.

 

For that one moment, in the belief that some bad person had done a bad thing to my child, I went through grief, thoughts of vengeance and abject despair and depression.

 

I was wondering how to break the news to her younger brother, how to comfort my wife and keep myself sane and strong to guide our family through the worst.

 

Thankfully my daughter did turn up, I did put her to bed safely and we as a family can feel safe again.

 

But this highlighted to me how fragile a mind can be, how one little nudge can send even the strongest to nihilism.

 

And why we should create moments with those closest to us, our partners, our children, whomever we are close to.

 

Life is too short to worry about our work, when we could be spending our time creating moments.

 



4 reasons you should study the Classics



Why study the classics?

 

1. It's thought to be a fit background for anyone contemplating a high-flying career in any profession.
2. It gives you a well trained mind.
3. If you're a Classical Scholar, you can pretty well do anything; you've even got the wherewithal to be the Captain of a Nuclear Submarine.
4. The study of the Classics, is not stuff that has no value.



Training is your best friend



I certainly prefer training over spending time with people, any day!

 

My exercises have done more for me than any of my 'friends'. In my life, I've met hundreds, thousands of people who wanted to attack me, steal from me, bully me, humiliate me, or even kill me.

 

But my training has given nothing but benefits. It gives far more than it takes. I've wasted great chunks of my time on human beings who I now wish I'd never even met. But training? I don't regret a single second of the time I spent working out.

 

Every moment of effort, every drop of sweat, was worthwhile.

Be a Man of Respect

 



To be anything in life demands respect. You cannot force people to respect you. That is simply instilled fear which leads to resentment and hatred.

 

Start with self-respect, stand up to bullies, stand up to people who would bully others, have a strong moral code, adhere to your values and let others spread the word you are a man to be respected and not to be crossed.

 

Let it be known you are a man of honour who fights for the underdog.

 

Let your actions speak volumes, people will respect you and your status in society will increase.