Quoth our man Marcus,
“Don’t ever forget . . . that you are part of nature. And no one can prevent you from speaking and acting in harmony with it, always.”
We can take this in a few ways.
Maybe Marcus is talking about the choice to act in harmony with nature. This brings up some questions. Can you choose to act OUT of harmony with nature? How do you know when you’re in harmony with nature . . . or out of it?
I think he meant it in a different way, though.
In Meditations, Marcus Aurelius wrote a lot about self-acceptance, even as he wrote about holding himself to a high standard.
He also mentions that the gods made you exactly as you are. Therefore, you are natural—exactly as you are. Warts and all.
And therefore, everything you do is in harmony with nature. It’s quite impossible for you to do or be anything unnatural.
Nobody can take that away from you.
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Love,
L.