\u201cRemember to conduct yourself in life as if at a banquet. As something being passed around comes to you, reach out your hand and take a moderate helping. Does it pass you by? Don\u2019t stop it. It hasn\u2019t yet come? Don\u2019t burn in desire for it, but wait until it arrives in front of you. Act this way with children, a spouse, toward position, with wealth\u2014one day it will make you worthy of a banquet with the gods.\u201d\u00a0\u2014EPICTETUS, ENCHIRIDION, 15
\nThe next time you see something you want, remember Epictetus\u2019s metaphor of life\u2019s banquet. As you find yourself getting excited, ready to do anything and everything to get it\u2014the equivalent of reaching across the table and grabbing a dish out of someone\u2019s hands\u2014just remind yourself: that\u2019s bad manners and unnecessary. Then wait patiently for your turn.
\nThis metaphor has other interpretations too. For instance, we might reflect that we\u2019re lucky to have been invited to such a wonderful feast (gratitude). Or that we should take our time and savor the taste of what\u2019s on offer (enjoying the present moment) but that to stuff ourselves sick with food and drink serves no one, least of all our health (gluttony is a deadly sin, after all). That at the end of the meal, it\u2019s rude not to help the host clean up and do the dishes (selflessness). And finally, that next time, it\u2019s our turn to host and treat others just as we had been treated (charity).
\nEnjoy the meal!\u201d
\nRyan Holiday & Stephen Hanselman. \u201cThe Daily Stoic.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cRemember to conduct yourself in life as if at a banquet. As something being passed around comes to you, reach out your hand and take a moderate helping. Does it pass you by? Don\u2019t stop it. It hasn\u2019t yet come? Don\u2019t burn in desire for it, but wait until it arrives in front of you. …<\/p>\n