Welcome to The Stoic Ledger, a daily money meditation from one of the stoic sages.

12/365: Epictetus on gratitude

Gratitude is a virtuous and powerful practice. Wisdom, a core piece of Stoic virtue, comes from a place of satisfaction and gratitude for what we have. 

How often do we look around at our possessions, one by one, and express sincere gratitude for the fact that we have them?

Instead of looking at the couch and plotting the replacement, expressing deep gratitude for a place to lounge and time to do so. 

Our things become our environment and we fail to notice and appreciate them. 

In a 2005 commencement address, David Foster Wallace said, “There are these two young fish swimming along and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says “Morning, boys. How’s the water?” And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes “What the hell is water?”

Step back, see the water, rejoice for what you have.