Lekhny composition -16-Sep-2023, Stoicism.

TOPIC : STOICISM

Once upon a time in the ancient city of Athens, there lived a young man named Alexios. He was known throughout the city for his quick temper and impulsive nature. Alexios often found himself in trouble, whether it was arguments with friends or confrontations with strangers. One sunny morning, as he walked through the bustling marketplace, Alexios bumped into an old man carrying a basket of fruit. The fruit scattered on the ground, and the old man, though frail and feeble, struggled to collect them. Alexios, true to his nature, reacted angrily, shouting at the old man and berating him for not watching where he was going. As Alexios continued to scold the old man, a crowd began to gather. Demetrius observed the situation and decided to intervene. He calmly approached Alexios and said, "Young man, it seems you are troubled by this accident. But tell me, what has the old man done to deserve your anger?" Alexios was taken aback by the philosopher's calm demeanor and wise words. He paused for a moment, realizing that his anger had gotten the best of him once again. "You're right," Alexios admitted, "I overreacted. It was an accident, and I should have handled it differently."
Demetrius smiled and replied, "Indeed, my friend. Life is full of accidents, and it is our reaction to them that truly matters. You see, I am a Stoic philosopher, and we believe that we cannot control external events, but we can control our reactions to them." Intrigued, Alexios asked Demetrius to explain further. The philosopher continued, "Stoicism teaches us to cultivate wisdom, courage, justice, and self-discipline. By doing so, we can find inner peace and resilience, even in the face of adversity." Over the following months, Alexios became a regular student of Demetrius, eagerly soaking in the teachings of Stoicism. He learned to pause and reflect on his emotions before reacting, to accept that life was full of uncertainties, and to focus on what he could control—his own thoughts and actions. As time passed, Alexios transformed. His temper became less fiery, and he began to see the world through a different lens. He realized that by practicing the principles of Stoicism, he could lead a more fulfilling and tranquil life. One day, while walking through the same marketplace, Alexios saw the old man from that fateful encounter once again. This time, he approached the old man with a warm smile and helped him gather the fallen fruit. The old man, recognizing Alexios, smiled back and said, "My friend, you have changed. What happened to the angry young man I met before?"
Alexios replied, "I discovered the wisdom of Stoicism, and it has transformed me. I learned that anger and impulsive reactions only bring suffering, while cultivating inner strength and serenity leads to a better life." The old man nodded in understanding, and the two shared a moment of quiet reflection.
From that day forward, Alexios continued his journey as a Stoic, living a life guided by wisdom, virtue, and resilience. He had learned that it was not the events of life that defined him, but his response to them. And in his newfound Stoic path, he found peace and purpose, sharing the wisdom he had acquired with those he met along the way, just as Demetrius had done for him.