It was just a long meeting. It was a lazy period. You just got distracted. You were waiting for something better. You did it because you didn’t know how to say “no.”
Ah, the excuses we make for doing things we have no business doing. As if, as Seneca points out, we aren’t paying for these excuses with the most precious resources we have—our time. Look back at those periods, those obligations you unthinkingly said “yes” to, and what do you see trailing behind you? It’s your life.
Remember, whatever it is, however long or short it is, we are giving up something we can never get back. “You can never ever leave,” go the song lyrics, “Without leaving a piece of youth.” And not just our youth, but our children’s youth, and just as easily our golden years or any period of our brief existence.
This is why we have to be wise enough to know what’s worth doing and what isn’t. Why we have to be confident enough to say “no,” courageous enough to change course when necessary. Honest enough to stop pretending the thing we’re doing isn’t costing us anything.
Because every day we are spending time. Every “yes” is a trade. Every obligation takes its cut. Every distraction leaves with something.
The question is not whether we will leave pieces of ourselves behind. The question is whether we’re leaving them with the people and places that matter. With what’s most important to us. With our families, with our children.
P.S. If you’re a parent looking for similar inspiration, The Daily Dadbook was published with a simple goal: give parents one Stoic-inspired reminder like this, every day, that what they do matters—and they’re not alone in it.
The book has become a daily devotional for thousands of parents at every stage. One short entry at a time, based on philosophy, history, and the hard-won wisdom of those who have walked this path before.
Our keepsake leather edition is built to last as long as the lessons in it—sturdy enough for daily reading, beautiful enough to pass down. It makes a genuinely meaningful Father’s Day gift for any dad in your life. Signed copies are available if you want to make it personal.
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