DISPATCH #004

2-Minute Tuesday (Okay, Maybe 5)

Hello dear friend,

This past week, I quit my job.

I realized that while I technically had the time for everything, energy is a resource too.
And though the privilege of pouring into others is so deeply meaningful, it's also draining.
It left me with almost nothing left for the kind of deep, focused work I need to be doing.

I tried to grit my teeth through it.
And it's hard to admit, but I couldn't do it.
Though, I’m proud I didn’t try to delay the inevitable.
I’m proud I trusted myself.

Finishing my thesis is the top priority for my career right now.
So I’m finally choosing to act like it is.

Is there something you keep saying is a priority, but haven’t followed through on yet?​
It’s strange how many problems taking action solves.
And how often... action begets action.

Recipe

I've made this protein pizza recipe five times this week. Need I say more?

Okay, I'll say more: it's a wet dough recipe; no kneading or waiting to rise. You just mix and throw it in the oven.
Perfect for a hungry, lazy boy like me.

​

Click before you order Uber Eats again.

Thing I Learned

I'm currently making another attempt at studying Meditations by Marcus Aurelius.
Everyone is quoting it, so I might as well read it.

Marcus Aurelius was (and is) regarded as a great man, often honoured with the title “Philosopher King.” Born a peasant, he was handpicked and groomed to become emperor of Rome.

This was a man who commanded defensive battles on the front lines, navigated a devastating plague (which killed roughly 10-30% of the population), sold the empire’s wealth (and his own) to feed his people, lost eight of his children, and spoke fondly of his wife:

Marcus marked the end of a period of stability in Rome (sometimes cited as the beginning of the empire’s decline).

Imagine Rome in the 2nd century AD: a colossal empire at its peak, defined by its military strength, wealth, and cultural influence. Yet, beneath this lay political tension, serious hardship, and a complex religious landscape.

This was a weird time in history. It was essentially illegal to be a Christian at this time in Rome, where every other religion was tolerated. Early Christians stood out because they refused to coexist; it was the only belief system in the empire that claimed exclusive truth. Ironically, the loving Christians (whose second commandment, mind you, is the Golden Rule: love thy neighbour) became pioneers of religious intolerance, and eventually, of anti-Semitism.

But I digress.

What is deeply fascinating about Meditations is that Marcus wrote this book to himself. "Meditations" comes from the original Greek τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν (Ta eis heauton), which translates to "things to oneself" or "thoughts directed toward oneself."

Why would an emperor write this?
To remind himself (through turbulence and turmoil; war, loss, and hardship) of what is truly important.

So, what was truly important to one of the most respected, effective, compassionate, and empathetic leaders, not just in Rome, but in the entirety of recorded history?

The people in his life.

The entire first book reads like a gratitude journal—a tribute to those who shaped him.
His mother. His grandfathers. His teachers. His adoptive father.

He thanks them for teaching him prudence, for helping him seek wisdom, and (most importantly) for showing him how to enact that wisdom with humility.

The fact that he begins his journal this way tells us everything: gratitude wasn’t an afterthought for Marcus; it was how he began.

And he reminds us that we, too, can choose to live with gratitude for those who shaped us (no matter our circumstances).
That gratitude, wisdom, and humility aren’t God-given virtues: they’re practices.
That we ought to learn from those around us, and reflect on it.
Not just from their successes, but from their flaws.

So ask yourself:

What is important to you?
Who taught you how to be you?
What did they teach you?
Where do you fall short?

Quote That Stuck With Me

Max Love,​
​EB

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