Cleaving the Earth with a Plow

Cleaving the Earth with a Plow

“The farmer cleaves the earth with his curved plow. This is his yearlong work, thus he sustains His homeland, thus his little grandchildren, His herds and trusty bullocks. Never a pause!” Virgil, The Georgics A man puts a plow in the earth. Behind a horse. He knows...
A Deeper Gift of Vacation

A Deeper Gift of Vacation

“Amusement is a sort of relaxation, and we need relaxation because we cannot work continuously.” Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics “Leisure is the end of toil.” Aristotle, Politics Aristotle distinguishes two kinds of downtime: amusement and leisure. Amusement refers to...
Stress #2: Too Much To Do

Stress #2: Too Much To Do

“Toil mastered everything, relentless toil. And the pressure of pinching poverty.” Virgil, The Georgics Most people I speak to say that there are too busy. For many, this busy-ness is a significant source of stress. We feel trapped; we feel constrained to attend to...
The Work of Winter

The Work of Winter

“Each kind of work has its own season.” Hesiod, Works and Days I am convinced that our bodies, and souls, want to move with the rhythm of the seasons. But most of us have professions or callings in which our work does not really vary according to the season. And...

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