Around the age of twelve, Marcus Aurelius’s philosophy tutor, Diognetus, introduced him to the Cynics.

In a lot of ways, Cynic philosophy was similar to Stoicism because they believed in one’s ability to minimize anxiety and depression.

They taught that our one purpose in life is to gain happiness and achieve virtue at the expense of pleasure.

And by pleasure, I mean anything that gives you a comfortable life.

The Cynics were known for wearing cheap cloaks made from coarse wool and sleeping on the ground even if there was a bed right next to them.

And it wasn’t because they wanted to show off, but because they believed that voluntary hardship in the present moment prepared you for the inevitable hardship that is bound to happen in the future.

It didn’t only strengthen your mind, but it also made you appreciate what you had.

As Socrates says, “Hunger is the best relish, whereas if we overeat we spoil our appetites.”

For example, the Cynics were known for eating stale bread. Because you know, it sucked. And in turn, they came to cherish it more whenever they ate freshly baked bread.

And that leads us back to Marcus.

As a kid hearing this, he thought it was the coolest thing in the world to strengthen your mind.

So at the age of twelve, the young emperor walked around barefoot, wore itchy clothes, and slept on the floor just as he was taught.

That was until his mother Lucilla convinced him to at least sleep on the floor with some animal skins. But he still did his best.

Luckily for me, I don’t live with my mom.

And as you can tell by today’s newsletter title, I sleep on the floor.

Well, sort of.

Whenever I go to sleep for the night, I’ll sleep in my usual bed. But whenever I find myself getting drowsy during the day, I’ll sleep on the floor in my office.

No blanket.

No pillow.

Just lying flat on a scratchy carpet covered in dog hair.

And I do it for three reasons: not because I like it, but because I don’t.

Secondly, because it’s the most efficient way of turning my usual 2-hour naps into a quick 10-minute one.

So if you struggle with taking overly long naps, try sleeping on the floor for once. That’ll change fast.

And finally, because I’ve come to appreciate my bed a lot more.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s definitely an unorthodox thing to do. But as a more modern quote says. . .

So don’t be afraid to live an uncommon life. And yes, it might be uncomfortable at times, but when has life ever been comfortable anyway?

So you might as well make it happen on your own terms.

Until next time,
Isaiah Taylor

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