That Stoic Veneer

                                    That Stoic Veneer

✂ COVID-19 vaccines are now the most common constants all over our global village.  From the U.S. to the U.K. to Indonesia, no one can't wait to get hold of the vaccines to fight this damn stubborn COVID-19 virus.  Seriously, everyone is just too gung-ho on this vaccine and we can't blame everyone of us as we have been hard hit by this long drawn pandemic.

What do we need then ?  It's to be STOIC. Stoic amidst this quandary.  Stoic amidst this global spiral.  Stoic in the middle of this conundrum.  And what better path to take than taking A STOIC APPROACH.  What will it take us to take this path ?  Let's be calm.  Throw away all the emotions.  Let's accept what's happening.  DON'T sulk.  DON'T brood over it.  DON'T indulge in self-pity [because who else will lift you up  but yourself].

Marcus Aurelius, the last of those Roman Emperors touted as one of the 'five good emperors' was more respected as a stoic philosopher.  He walked the talk with his most endearing philosophies, e.g. YOU HAVE POWER OVER YOUR MIND [not outside events].  WASTE NO MORE TIME ARGUING ABOUT WHAT A GOOD MAN SHOULD BE. Be one.  Just one too many quotes of stoicism.  

In our real lives, however, everything that's going on right in front of our eyes are everything that is an antithesis of stoicism.  We hear whining. screeches.  sobbings.  wailings.  yowls.  And shrieks and whimpers.  Where does that lead us to ?  We end up pushed at the corner, immobile, mentally paralyzed, in a state of stupor.  Meanwhile, those who need the most help end up helpless, rudderless because we ourselves seem to be drifting out in the high seas.

Even in the U.S. where Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna are at the forefront of the vaccine researches and fast-tracked productions, the first tranch of beneficiaries has timelines that stretch that will stretch for the next 3 quarters of 2021.  Give a buffer of a quarter, optimistically, we're looking at end-2021 before the vaccines are benefited even within the U.S.  NOW HOLD YOUR BREATH.  What did the health and medical experts have screamed ?  While the vaccines will protect you from getting ill, QUOTE IT'S STILL POSSIBLE YOU COULD STILL CARRY THE VIRUS AND BE CONTAGIOUS TO OTHERS UNQUOTE.  So, where do we end up ?  We're still within ourselves and once you are in this survival mode, you gotta build that STOICISM, be CALM, be IN CONTROL.  DON'T let the gusty winds throw you off.  DON'T let the tsunami-like tidal waves wash you off the shores.  BE STOIC and no less than that. ✊