Many Chances to Improve. Too many?
Yesterday wasn't my best day. Interestingly, it had to do with world politics, something that usually never affects me in any way. But this time it did, and quite a bit, as I'll explain a little further down. I was overthinking and with that becoming more anxious, leaving me in a state of mind that even breathing and music and such didn't calm. One thing did, though - Marcus Aurelius. Yeah. That dude.
For nothing is so productive of elevation of mind as to be able to examine methodically and truly every object which is presented to thee in life, and always to look at things so as to see at the same time what kind of universe this is, and what kind of use everything performs in it, and what value everything has with reference to the whole, and what with reference to man, who is a citizen of the highest city, of which all other cities are like families; what each thing is, and of what it is composed, and how long it is the nature of this thing to endure which now makes an impression on me, and what virtue I have need of with respect to it, such as gentleness, manliness, truth, fidelity, simplicity, contentment, and the rest.
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book 3, Chapter 11
2026 was already to become a year of many challenges. Within the bakery, integrating the restaurant in the back. With Lily's mom, who moved back to Cotacachi. With Ellie, who had to move out of her house and will have to deal with a few moves before the new house is ready. With us wanting to get married in the middle of that, which might be postponed.
And now, the possibility of Lily's mom wanting to go back to her home country, Venezuela. She always wanted that, but in my case, with all the destruction and sorrow he caused within the country he ruled, he was a positive. Even Lily's mom understood that there was nothing to live off in Venezuela.
But now? There is the possibility that she'll want to go back asap. And given her recent statements, the confrontations we had, she might want to take Lily with her, which would be devastating for her, being ripped out of her home yet again. "She'll survive," is what the mom said the last time she threatened me to take Lily away, and I told her the damage it would do to Lily. One could hope for a wonder, but from my perspective and experience, her mom is not one to improve.
Which always made me want to improve double. To balance it out for Lily, so maybe she'll get just the right amount of virtues into her life - not as extreme as I, nor as extreme as her mom on the other side. And that's where MA comes into play.
Before, I looked at problems from all different sides, making up ways to deal with them. But I've worked a lot on myself, and I think I can call myself an overall virtuous person, even when considering the vices that I have still left. Now, I can not only analyze the problem, but I can decide with which virtue I want to accept it. Not attack it, not tackle it, but accept the problem. There's a big difference in the approach.
It doesn't mean that I won't fight for Lily, for what I think is best for her. Defining the virtue of which I have need is more like rooting myself, finding the right stance, the base from which I will be deciding which measures to take. If I ground myself on a virtue and use it as a thread for my actions, it might be less likely to be overwhelmed by vices, by emotions.
So, that's something to work on in 2026. Becoming better at dealing with problems, big ones. I will end 2026 better, maybe not economically or such superficial parts, but as a self. Getting a few steps closer to who and what I could be. And then, hopefully lead by example. Wouldn't it be great if more people started working on themselves? If the world somehow shifted from a chase of individualism towards virtues again? But one step at a time...
I've come a long way in 2025. But it's in crisis when we measure our progress. The genius of a hole - no matter how long it takes you to climb up, you can still fall down in an instant. How deep we fall makes all the difference. Were we able to elevate rock bottom?
2026 might just become the year to measure my progress.
How did you understand the quote of Marcus Aurelius?
Please feel free to engage in any original way, including dropping links to your posts on similar topics. I'm happy to read (and curate) any quality content that is not created by LLM/AI.
Post written for the #weekend-engagement by @galenkp inviting us to answer selected questions in the Weekend Experiences community each week.
This is my response to:
1/ Why will 2026 be a better year than 2025 for you personally? Explain.
And all other questions, basically, in side notes.
Thank you for reading!
I've started years thinking they will be the best ever and I've started them with the expectation (through what I knew at the time) that they would likely be terrible and mostly I've been right; not always though.
I'm not one to buy into politics as some do. Trump-bashing seems like such a waste of my time and effort, the same with Putin bashing, that wanker from Ukraine is just as bad (such a corrupt country); all rogues out to line their own pockets. It always confounds me when people who are not there "on the ground" and fully aware of the situations and nuances go to social media with strong opinions and dialogues. I swear they do it for a sense of "relevance" due to not finding that in their own lives. Everyone's an expert huh?
However, I was pleased to see that criminal Maduro taken away. It would be good to see some order brought back to that country, less crime, more safety, better financial conditions, although I think humans will do what they do and some new idiot will rise and the general population will still suffer in one way or another. In your case though, there's a residual negative to Medrano being Trumperised, the potential loss of your daughter.
It's sad for you really, I am not a parent but can imagine what it must feel like to have such a thing occur but, like you have said, her best interests need to be taken into consideration and that's what's important. I hope your ex-partner isn't weaponising that situation just to get at you. That would be a garbage-human thing to do.
I hope your year rolls out somewhat as expected and positively, and if you keep "fighting" as you say, work on dealing with and handling problems as they arise I hope to hear in December that it was a good one.
Also, I'll be waiting for my wedding invitation and have a great gift planned. (Might be Vegemite.)
First - Thank you for writing such a long and thought through comment on my post. I really appreciate that.
I'm not sure yet about 2026 to be honest. I'll try to apply all that I learned in the last 2 years and convert into the best outcome possible, but who knows, maybe the bottom of the hole is deeper than I'm hoping it to be.
As for politics and general, bashing anyone is a waste of time. Trump knows what he's doing, and he's playing the game by his own rules. If he'll succeed in the end or not, is a whole different topic. And as you say, for most people in the world, it's not even relevant. Especially those who talk about it. They don't have a clue about what's going in the country, but judge safely hidden behind their screens.
What is my fortune against that of a whole country?
I've seen the suffering of Venezuelan humans a lot throughout the years. The worst was in 2020, when the lock downs in Ecuador drove most of them out of work, out of goals, out of everything. I live 3h by car from the Colombian border, and we had Venezuelan people walking both ways. They came to Ecuador to survive until their country would be able to sustain them again. They crossed Colombia to seek survival in Ecuador and beyond. Then the borders closed, they're chased out of cities as health hazard, and they walked the Panamericana like zombies. We told the ones that were walking towards the border that there's no way to pass it. They didn't care. They still kept walking. What else could they do?
That level of desperation stuck with me. So, yes, I'm glad that Maduro is out, for the sake of all of those people that we tried to help back then. Those who catch hope on a liter of water, a lunch and a couple of buns "for the road". The amount of suffering that the military regime in Venezuela caused is unimaginable for most Westeners. Especially those who have many opinions on Facebook.
I have to consider all that. I have means, I have possibilities. I can fight. And I could fight dirty, too. That's where MA comes into play. I could approach the problem from a standpoint of vice, playing dirty, the end justifies the means. Or I could approach it with virtue, fight fairly, being the example that I want to be for my child, trying to play it smart - it has worked so far. But I could end up being a clown, holding high the extinguished flame of virtue, all alone.
Or maybe 2026 is the year to teach me moral flexibility for the greater good. Who knows. And yes, in 11 months and 20 days, I'll probably write that it was a good year. If I'm not hitting rock bottom just then.
And if you really want to travel around half the world to attend to the wedding of a guy you knew on Hive - I'll make it happen on my side, talking the bride into it and such. And I'd even give Vegemite another try. Maybe I just didn't have the right bread the first time...
I don't know first-hand what the situation is in Venezuela but know enough to know it's not good.
I communicated a little (off Hive) with someone from Venezuela and that person explained some of the everyday challenges around food and essentials shopping, income, rent/housing, safety and such things; we also spoke about working around it, maintaining attitude and all. It made me feel quote sad to be honest, especially considering I live a very comfortable life in an affluent country. So if getting rid of an asshole who didn't care about anything but himself but was in a position to make a positive difference, makes a positive change then I'm all for it.
Sometimes bad things need to happen to make things better for others.
There was this little thing called World War Two which made things better for a lot of people, even though millions were killed while ending the tyranny of the Nazi's. Oh yeah, war is not good preach the pacifists...but they have the right to do so because someone went to war to preserve their freedom, a freedom many would not have had had the Axis powers been victorious. Just an example.
Sometimes unpopular things need to occur and with so many people too afraid to do something outside of the norm it's left to those with the gumption to do something that they may be ridiculed for.
Anyway, time will tell how 2026 will shape up; hopefully better for those in Venezuela. Maybe some bombs will be dropped on terrorists (hopefully) and maybe Australia's leadership will change from a piss-weak leftist asshole to someone who knows how to stand for this country. Maybe Trump and America will get richer, (I hope so because my superannuation will benefit) and maybe I'll be there at your wedding carrying the right bread and some Vegemite as a gift...All I know, is that I'll be working towards making my own year as good as it can be and mitigating the bad aspects. You too it seems.
Funny that you mention that part. A friend of mine said roughly the same regarding the situation in Venezuela. Sometimes war is necessary to prevent greater suffering. Following your WW2 example, maybe war on Stalin, Mao or Pol Pot would've saved millions of lives.
The thought that something drastic is necessary to wake people, especially in developed countries, from their comfort slumber is something that pops into my mind frequently. Everyone has gotten too complacent.
And yes, I'll make this year good somehow. And even if at the end I use the euphemism of "a lot of learning experiences", that would be fine, too. I had a great 2025.
We, as a species, have a lot to learn about each other and the planet upon which we live. Sadly, the lessons don't seem to stick and we keep making the same mistakes over and over with each other and in respect of the planet. We are like a plague, not a good one (I'm not sure there's any good ones actually), and no matter how hard the few try, the many override them and so there's little real advancement in that area. People are more interested in their lifestyle, the comfort and having things than they are in a healthy, functional and happy existence.
You really have much to fix this year. I wish you the best in all
Thank you very much!