Aga Aquino

I often struggle with keeping my composure on matters that I value greatly, lately it’s about frugality and financial literacy. Social media is bombarded with examples of people doing the opposite or demonstrating acts that are contrary to what I deem to be correct. In some perspectives, perhaps, I could be considered preachy and arrogant. I should recognize these observations to be true. When I write my blogs, telling people what to do with their money, I should just keep to myself.

Marcus Aurelius said

“You always own the option of having no opinion. There is never any need to get worked up or to trouble your soul about things you can’t control. These things are not asking to be judged by you. Leave them alone.”

How people behave is none of my business, their actions do not matter to me, nor can they ever affect me.

I needed to remind myself of this.

In so many cases in my distant and recent past, I placed myself in a moral or ideological position of superiority. I would claim to myself: “I know the answers, I know the right moves, listen to me and acknowledge my greatness”.

This arrogance led me to more suffering than the alternative. Declaring superiority can only end up in two ways: People will loathe you, be envious, or threatened. Or they will depend on you, and gift you with burdens of responsibility because only you can do it right. I have experienced both, and after all this time, I’d think that I would have learned.

But life is learning, committing mistakes and moving forward.

And this is why I write the thoughts and ideas, typed down as a form of meditation, for me to reflect and assess my actions, to determine if I am still on the right track. My goal was to be better, not to talk about being better.

So, no more posting or sharing, just doing. No one needs to know my process, if they do, then they can ask. But moving forward, I write for an audience of none.

This is not for other people, but for me.