Backpacks, Burdens, and Being Okay
Ever feel like you’re lugging around a giant backpack, even when you don’t have anything to put in it? Like, just… existing is tiring?
That’s kinda what the old Stoics were talking about. These weren’t grumpy guys saying “feel nothing!” They were actually super into figuring out how to deal with life’s… stuff. And a big part of it is realizing what’s actually heavy in that backpack.
See, we tend to fill it with things we can’t control. Like, what your neighbor thinks of your lawn gnomes. Or that traffic jam that made you late for coffee. Or worrying about what might happen next Tuesday. Useless weight!
The Stoics said, focus on what you can control: your own actions, your own thoughts, your own reactions. That’s it. Everything else? Just… let it be. It’s like, why strain your back carrying someone else’s groceries?
It’s not about ignoring problems. It’s about recognizing that some problems you can solve, and some you just have to live with. And wasting energy on the ones you can’t solve? That’s just self-inflicted backpack strain.
So next time you feel overwhelmed, picture that backpack. What’s in it? Is it full of things you can actually do something about? Or is it just… stuff? Maybe it’s time for a little unpacking. You might be surprised how much lighter you feel.