The Stoic skill of being grateful arises out of the realization that we are a part of a larger whole which extends to our family, friends, society, and the world. We received benefits from this connection. We should be grateful all the time for this, more so on special occasions like the New Year. 

Chuck Chakrapani, Editor 

It’s in keeping with Nature to show our friends affection and to celebrate their advancement, as if it were our very own 

Seneca, Moral Letters 109:15 

I think there is a lot to celebrate within the contemporary Stoic community. Sometimes, I forget this fact even though I spend a lot of my time doing research and giving talks on how Stoic philosophy can be used to address climate breakdown, economic inequality,and social issues generally. So, I would like to use this article to tell you how grateful I am for helping me push the envelope. 

Thank you to all the Stoic philosophers that came before me 

I am very thankful for the ancient Stoics who dedicated their time to thinking about how best to live a life well-lived in a cosmopolitan community. I am grateful that the Stoic founder Zeno who recognised the unity of humanity, the wonder of Nature and the fact that, for neurotypical adults, our ability to flourish is solely dependent on our thoughts, attitude, and actions. This is a liberating understanding of the world. There is nothing more freeing than knowing that I have everything I need to be happy. I don’t need to blame others, get angry or get even. I must live simply according to Nature, in a courageous, just, self-controlled, and wise manner. I must do what I can to ensure that the world I live in also operates in the same way. That’s hard but I can see a way forward. It’s hard but it inspires me to get up in the morning and con-tinuously make an effort throughout my day. I am grateful that you help me find my life purpose. 

Thank you to all the Stoics that work alongside me 

There are so many of you who inspire me. Some of you work in universities, some of you are retired. Some of you are authors and speakers. Some of you wouldn’t call yourself philosophers, or even Stoics, but rather deep thinkers. Some of you lead Facebook groups. Some of you are members of the police, some self-employed. Some of you are venture capitalists, some work for the government. Some of you are stay-at-home parents. Some of you have podcasts. Some of you work on farms. Some of you have met me in person. Some of you will never see me face to face. I am thankful to all of you for keeping me on my toes, for helping me think. I am thankful to all of you who have shared my work, took the time to listen to it or read it or invited me to write or speak. I am grateful for all the kind words you have said in front of me or in my absence. You fuel my journey and make it worthwhile. I look forward to the many steps that await us on our journey. 

Thank you to all the Stoics I will meet in the coming year 

It’s so exciting to see our community grow and become stronger. I am hopeful that more Stoics will emerge in the coming year. I look forward to seeing and hearing the ideas that each Stoic brings to the table and the things they will do to make our community more resilient and better connected. If this is one of the first times you have read an article here at The Stoic, or whether you read my articles often, I am very thankful to you. Don’t be afraid to reach out to me on Twitter or through my website. I look forward to being part of 

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Kai Whiting is a researcher and lecturer in sustainability and Stoicism based at the University of Lisbon, Portugal. He Tweets @kaiwhiting and blogs over at StoicKai.com 

 

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