Why Time Feels Short
Sundays with Seneca (Vol. 9)
🏛️ Sundays with Seneca
Sundays with Seneca is a weekly series exploring the writings (and Stoic philosophy) of Lucius Annaeus Seneca. Each meditation delivers a contemporary interpretation of one of Seneca’s letters, accompanied by a reflection exercise. *** This series is exclusive to members.
Why Time Feels Short
Letter 32, On Progress
I’ve been asking about you—everyone who comes from your part of the world I question: what you’re doing, where you spend your time, and with whom. You cannot deceive me; I am with you.
Live as if I were certain to receive a full report of your actions—better yet, as if I could actually see them.
And do you know what news about you pleases me most?
That I hear nothing.
Most of the people I ask don’t know what you’re up to.
That’s a good sign. It suggests you’re not scattering yourself in public noise. It is wise to avoid constant company with those whose character and aims are very different from your own.
I’m confident you won’t be bent out of shape by others, that you’ll stick to your purpose even if the crowd presses in. What, then, worries me? Not that they will change you, but that they will delay you.
Even someone who merely holds you back does great harm—especially when life is already short, and we make it shorter still by our lack of steadiness: always “starting over,” first in one direction, then in another.
We chop our life into little pieces and fritter it away.
