Live it properly.

Once upon a time my name was Marcus Aurelius. I was once a Roman Emperor yet what most people remember me for now is a tiny book that they no longer bother to buy. They simply look up quotes on AI. Did I consider myself as a Stoic to be a passenger not a driver? Was I just there to … carry out the decisions of the gods? The book was meant to be only personal reflections not a lifestyle. I had these meetings…. where I felt totally like a robot…. ruled by the whims of gods and men. I would come back to my tent and open the book and meditate. I had been trained by other slaves and teachers. Trained how to listen and carry out my orders for the glory of Rome. This is my story.

No novel or historical fiction or fantasy should begin that way.

"Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now take what's left and live it properly.”

I no longer recall when or even why I wrote that. In fact I don’t remember many things. Some that happened very recently. When you’ve lived as long as I have such things happen. Yet I am told that quote has provided comfort to a lot of people who’ve also come out of meetings they didn’t enjoy.

"The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury."
"You have power over your mind — not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength."
"The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts."

As you can see. All meetings I disliked. They were hell bent on ending the Roman Republic. They wanted to destroy everything. All I could do, as the Emperor was keep a tiny journal. And after every such meeting write one line whose intention was not to offend anyone who might read it.

I very much doubt your lives are anything like mine. I doubt your hidden controllers are bent on ruining your country or republic or whatever you have now. If you read that tiny book, you should understand why I wrote those things before your adopt it as your way of living.