Day: September 26, 2021

Spaces and people

~ osasuoviawe ~ Leave a comment

Today, I stumbled upon a quote that described a phenomenon I know well, but never quite put it so succinctly.

“It is inevitable if you enter into relations with people on a regular basis…that you will grow to be like them. Place an extinguished piece of coal next to a live one, and either it will cause the other one to die out, or the live one will make the other reignite. … If you consort with someone covered in dirt you can hardly avoid getting a little grimy yourself.” — Epictetus

“Where” and “with whom has defined more success stories than anything else.

I am thankful for the spaces and people that have nurtured me so far.

Cue 144 – History’s Seductive Beliefs

~ osasuoviawe ~ Leave a comment

History’s Seductive Beliefs

“A simple rule that’s obvious but easy to ignore is that nothing worth pursuing is free. How could it be otherwise? Everything has a price, and the price is usually proportionate to the potential rewards.

But the price is rarely on a price tag. You don’t pay it with cash. Most things worth pursuing charge their fee in the form of stress, doubt, uncertainty, dealing with quirky people, bureaucracy, other peoples’ conflicting incentives, hassle, nonsense, and general bullshit. That’s the overhead cost of getting ahead.” – Morgan Housel

The ungrateful

~ osasuoviawe ~ Leave a comment

I have been blessed with a healthy number of ungrateful people in my life. Ingratitude has never stopped me from doing what I think is right for those in my care.

The insight I received over these past few weeks is how loose the boundary of my circle is. How people step in and out at will, exploiting my bias for responsibility. Many getting away with things even I cannot speak of.

I have decided to clearly mark my circle, and be intentional about those I keep out.

The ungrateful is the enemy within. Better to keep them out.

– Osasu Oviawe