The great philosopher-king Marcus Aurelius journaled these thoughts about his adopted father, Marcus Annius Verus, a respected political leader in his day:
"The way he handled the material comforts that fortune had supplied him in such abundance—without arrogance and without apology. If they were there, he took advantage of them. If not, he didn't miss them."
Without arrogance and without apology.
I love the balance here—living without a sense of superiority while also rejecting the facade of false modesty. This is a rare posture for anyone to hold, let alone a person of status and influence. So, what could make such a position possible?
Gratitude.
Learning to appreciate not only the good fortune life can bring but also the growth that can take place in fortune's absence. Gratitude allows us to embrace life's comforts without clinging to them.
If you want to stand out from the crowd, don't focus on acquiring status or stuff. Focus on establishing a foundation of gratitude. This way, you can live without arrogance and without apology.
I’d love to know how you see it. Join me in the comments!
You may remember the qualities I chose to describe you years ago. You, my friend, exhibit a beautiful balance of confidence and humility.
Super amazing! Packed with beautiful information. Loved this line specially "Gratitude allows us to embrace life's comforts without clinging to them. "