An Adventure Called Life?

It's day 189 of documenting 2025.

Keep writing.

That's today's lesson.

Show up, no matter how you feel and act accordingly in spite of that.

Today's another exam day at the school. By this time next week, it will all be over.

Marking and recording of scores will then commence.

(PS. Still thinking of how I'll tell my boss that I have to quit 😐)

I guess we'll just have to take it one day at a time.

Let see what quotes we're highlighting today from the usual read, as well as timeless lessons to meditate on by Marcus Aurelius.

365 Days With Self-discipline 

📌 On Adventures

"So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more dangerous to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. 

The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new

experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun."

Quote by Jon Krakauer

Boredom is dangerous not only because it’s unpleasant, but also because it usually means having the worst kind of security in life — complacency. 

It’s good to feel satisfied with what you have, but the moment you get stuck in a rut, afraid that any change will ruin the security you now enjoy, you lose the opportunity for immense joy and personal growth.

Adventures spice up life. 

Without new experiences, life is boring and there’s little growth to be attained. 

When you’re bored, you’re less likely to feel inspired to make changes in life, so it leads to a downward spiral.

Embark on new adventures as often as you can. 

Traveling always means encounters with new experiences, but you don’t necessarily have to leave your hometown every week to live an adventurous life. 

Learning new interesting skills can be an adventure in itself. 

Hiking to a nearby wilderness area or spending the night in a tent outdoors can get you out of a rut, too.

Lastly, to actually be considered adventures, they are usually at least slightly uncomfortable or dangerous, and that also means an opportunity to practice self-discipline and toughen up. 

Plan your next adventure now!

I had to share the whole note today.

This reminded me that familiarity can sometimes be dangerous in the sense that we become complacent.

That's how it is for me, right now...and I'll seek a new adventure after this school term is over.

On to the next...

Meditations 

📌 Book 4

8. It can ruin your life only if it ruins your character. Otherwise it cannot

harm you—inside or out.

9. It was for the best. So Nature had no choice but to do it.

10. That every event is the right one. Look closely and you’ll see.

Not just the right one overall, but right. As if someone had weighed it out with scales.

Keep looking closely like that, and embody it in your actions: goodness—what defines a good person.

Keep to it in everything you do.

11. Not what your enemy sees and hopes that you will, but what’s really there.

12. Two kinds of readiness are constantly needed: 

(i) to do only what the logos of authority and law directs, with the good of human beings in mind; 

(ii) to reconsider your position, when someone can set you straight or convert you to his. 

But your conversion should always rest on a conviction that it’s right, or benefits others—nothing else. 

Not because it’s more appealing or more popular.

Then I asked for an interpretation and a breakdown of the lessons behind each sentence.

Here's what I got:

8. "It can ruin your life only if it ruins your character."

Translation:

No event, no loss, no insult can truly destroy you… unless it changes who you are at your core. If your values, dignity, or integrity stay intact, you’ve already won.

Real Talk:

Suffering ≠ Failure.

Character loss? That’s the real L.

Modern Application:

You lost a client? A gig fell through?

and...

Did you stay honest? Stay kind? 

Then you’re good.

They dragged you online?

As long as you didn’t become bitter or fake, you’re still solid.

9. "It was for the best. So Nature had no choice but to do it."

Translation:

Sometimes life makes painful moves… but if it happened, it had to happen. Nature, fate, the universe; whatever you call it made that call for a reason, even if you don’t see it now.

Mindset Shift:

Instead of “Why me?”,

Try “Why not me?” or “What’s this making room for?”

Modern Application:

A closed door may look like punishment but it could be divine setup. Move with trust, not regret.

10. "Every event is the right one. Look closely and you’ll see."

Translation:

Even the messy stuff...the awkward convos, the delays, the rejections, were meant exactly as they happened. Like it was measured and delivered to you on purpose.

Key Word: Goodness

Don’t just accept it. Live it. Be the kind of person who responds to life with virtue, not vibes.

Modern Application:

Your response = your character.

Stay kind. Stay intentional. Even when it’s hard.

11. "Not what your enemy sees and hopes that you will, but what’s really there."

Translation:

Don’t react based on how your haters want you to react. Don’t give people the performance they’re trying to provoke. 

See things clearly. Respond based on truth, not ego.

Modern Application:

When someone’s trying to bait you online, or in real life, pause. Breathe. 

Ask:

“What’s really happening here?”

“Is this worth my peace?”

You win by not playing their game.

12. "Two kinds of readiness are needed..."

> i. Do only what’s right, with people’s wellbeing in mind.

ii. Be open to change but only if it’s right, not because it’s trendy.

Translation:

i. Let your actions be driven by purpose and people, not pressure or pride.

ii. Stay humble. Be open to correction. But don’t switch up just to fit in.

Key Point:

Stand firm in truth, but stay flexible if new info shows you a better way.

Modern Application:

* Don’t jump on bandwagons.

* Don’t change your opinion for likes.

* But if someone drops facts that challenge your belief? Respectfully evolve.

This could be directed at those who deal with social media to pass their message across to people.

I've learned that real organic growth on social media happens when you tell a story that resonates.

You just have to find the right one to tell.

Speaking of stories, I have lots of them on the main site, Documenting 2025

I'll see you there 😉 

You can also check out the reader survey I created and drop your response.

I would love to hear from you.

Online, I'm called Duon Ada.

I'm documenting 2025,

And I'll see you tomorrow.

Ciao 💕