I haven't watched a movie in the theater for years. Our family Netflix subscription had also been cut more than a year ago.

Movies are amazing. For telling truths. For telling lies. For telling versions of the truth. Versions of lies. Versions of realities we imagine. Our suspensions of disbelief.

The opening battle scene of the movie Gladiator is one of the best in my reality at a certain point in time.

It is where, General Maximus, facing the "barbaric" Germanic tribes, would lead and inspire his infantry and cavalry to battle, would say one of my favorite lines of all time,

"If you find yourself alone, riding in green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled. For you are in Elysium, and you're already dead!"

The general being "Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next," as he would reveal himself at the latter point in the movie.

Of course, the "barbarians" weren't the bad guys in history. I don't know if they can be called "good." But for sure they were fighting the Romans and "The Great Romain Empire" not just because they wanted to smash some skulls and keep some bones.

The Germanic tribes were a group of peoples who lived in Northern Europe during the Roman era. They were often called "barbarians" by the Romans, but this term was used in a derogatory way. The Germanic tribes were actually very skilled warriors, and they posed a serious threat to the Roman Empire.

In the movie, Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor, and Maximus, the general and gladiator, had a complex relationship. Marcus Aurelius saw Maximus as a son and a potential successor to the throne. He was impressed by Maximus's courage, loyalty, and wisdom.

In real life, Marcus Aurelius and Maximus never met. Marcus Aurelius died in 180 AD, and Maximus was born in 182 AD.

Nonetheless, such beautiful lie brought me truths.

It led me to be curious about Marcus Aurelius, one of history's, or the ancients', foremost stoics.

Stoicism is a philosophy that teaches us how to live a good life by focusing on our own actions and thoughts, and by accepting what we cannot control.

There are practice exercises. Two Stoic practices that can be helpful in daily life are negative visualization and voluntary discomfort.

Negative visualization is the practice of imagining negative events happening to you. This can help you to develop resilience and to appreciate the good things in your life. For example, you might imagine losing your job, getting sick, or being in a car accident. By imagining these negative events, you can learn to accept that they are a possibility, and you can start to develop coping mechanisms for dealing with them.
Voluntary discomfort is the practice of exposing yourself to mild discomfort. This can help you to develop self-discipline and to appreciate the comfort in your life. For example, you might try going for a walk in the rain, sleeping on the floor, or eating a bland diet. By exposing yourself to mild discomfort, you can learn to control your emotions and to appreciate the things that you have.

Be a gladiator.

Then be a stoic.

Be a masterful, masterless rōnin.

The Philippines quietly making firsts in bitcoin.

Be broken to be reforged, from fire to flame.

Be like water.

Be unstoppable.

See all posts from lyman