#DontShootPDX and Stoicism

Last time I posted about Black Lives Matter (BLM) was in August of 2015 which is, in my view, too damn long ago. The last time I spoke out was due to a disruption during the Sanders campaign. By confronting Bernie, BLM drew heat from oh so many white liberals, who felt the sting of "why us, we're the good guys," instead of feeling the burning shame that should of accompanied being called out as part of the problem. In response I wrote a short piece in support of BLM, knowing that my role begins by speaking and acting loudly in all the spaces that I'm a part of, not the least of which is my own website.

I haven't even been able to do my simple 15 minute podcasts because I can't sort my Stoicism from my Stoicism. The podcast, Good Fortune, is important to me as both a personal practice and as a service to our Stoic community. I only say as a service because of the gracious words of encouragement and notes of thanks that I've received from many. I have intentionally framed Good Fortune in a neutral manner, laying out Stoic ideas and practices in a way that is accessible to as wide an audience as is possible without degrading the philosophy. I am happy to do this. I will continue to do so. At the same time, this world is burning. Stoicism demands I walk into the flames for others sake. For my own sake. 

Stoicism is not a neutral philosophy. It certainly has practices that can apply to any person willing to invest thought and time. It has quotes that can probably strengthen the resolve of anyone that brings them to mind. Stoicism also makes demands. It is a virtue philosophy. It demands character. It demands action. It demands we become better. Stoicism doesn't care that you're free from anxiety, it cares that you use that freedom to boldly build a better world. And yes, I'm anthropomorphizing Stoicism. It's to save time. "Stoicism" is a hell of a lot better than the men who have taught it throughout the ages and I don't have time to lay out caveats to every statement I make right now.

So last night I was marching in solidarity with Black Lives Matter PDX. Alton Sterling and Philando Castile are dead, like so many other black men and women. So I joined others in expressing solidarity by showing up. I have a lot I want to say and perhaps will concerning that march. Personally concerning how virtue is lived out. Politically concerning where my duty lies in society. Racially concerning the need for white people to both show up and shut up. That's for later. This minute I just need to say that I can't speak about "big tent" Stoicism unless I find an outlet for Stoicism as I live it. So, if nothing prevents it, that outlet will be here.

Screw Up

Man, I really messed up at my job yesterday. I'm an instructor for the American Red Cross, primarily teaching First Aid of various stripes. Yesterday I had two classes, one at a business out of town which went well and one in Vancouver, Washington that did not. The Vancouver class went wrong mostly because I tried to run it from Portland, Oregon.

I wrote the wrong destination down, completely my own fault. When the courses' start time came around I thought, "this sudden rain storm may have bogged down traffic." When the call from a student came in asking where I was I thought, "Oh man, I'm an idiot."

Now, many times people sign up for my classes at the tail end of a deadline for work. There's a standard rescheduling/refunding method for classes but I knew many people could have a problem if they didn't get certified right away. I asked if people could wait for me. Google claimed it would take me forty minutes to arrive and then I'd have about fifteen minutes of gear set up to do. The students said that Southbound traffic is easier (Google claimed it would take them 20 minutes to arrive) and, since I was already set up, things would get started much quicker. More than half the class decided to drive down to me. Ten minutes after that decision I received another call.

There was a man threatening to kill himself on the Interstate bridge between Vancouver and Portland. Police had stopped traffic in both directions. All of the students were stuck on that bridge for an indeterminate amount of time.  The night continued to run just as smoothly as it began. I ended up training a few people in Portland, driving to Vancouver and training another man there, and then writing up an after-action report to document my foolishness for Red Cross records.

Why am I sharing this? Because I feel fine. When I received the initial call revealing my mistake, adrenaline flooded my body. In the past, that initial embarrassment would have blossomed into a panic and shame that would have crippled me in the moment and followed me for days. Not anymore (perhaps I should simply say, not this time?). I had, and have, genuine concern for my mistake and for those it affected. That's why I spent the evening getting as many people certified as I could. It was all I could do. The students didn't need me to feel bad, they needed me to certify them. I was very apologetic, sincerely so, but when it came to my job I was confident, instructed them without cutting corners, and just got things done.

It was Stoic practice that allowed me, a person who spent much of life crippled by anxiety and a resultant fear of embarrassment, to turn an unfortunate event into a somewhat better event. It was small daily attempts to not just read words but embody the Stoic mindset that allowed me to do what Marcus Aurelius advised and, "not...feel exasperated, or defeated, or despondent because your days aren't packed with wise and moral actions. But to get back up when you fail, to celebrate behaving like a human --however imperfectly-- and fully embrace the pursuit you've embarked on."

I know I'm writing like I triumphed over an invading army when all I did was clean up my mess as best I could. I just want it documented that Stoicism changed me. For all it's smallness and all the grace that other people are often willing to give, mistakes like yesterday's used to leave marks on me. Waking up unscathed is worth celebrating.

If you have similar issues with personal mistakes, Episode Eight of Good Fortune, "When We Stumble," might be for you. Podcast here. Transcript here.