Opus 2018-227: The Art of Life

As I was perusing the notes I had taken while reading Marcus Aurelius, I came across this line,

“The art of life is more like the wrestler’s than the dancer’s...” page 251

I find I can identify with that.  Wrestlers and dancers both use a lot of energy but have totally different experiences.  A wrestler gets down and dirty.  A wrestler always is involved with someone else and responds to what they do.  A wrestler is defeated by someone else.  I tried wrestling once in college and one day put me in bed for two.

A dancer can be a loner and doing their own thing.  If they have a partner they are working together.  Ultimately they are really competing against themselves.  A dancer is involved in an work of art.  In addition to the strength and endurance of a wrestler they also have elements of interpretation and creativity. 

Few of us has the gifts to produce a great work of art.  We can celebrate those who do.  The rest of us should be able to take some satisfaction in putting a half Nelson, whatever that is, on the next crisis that dares to look us in the eye.  A perfect cup of coffee is a rare treat to be savored but on a day-to-day basis most of us will have to be content with a cup of everyday Joe.

Aurelius, Marcus.  The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, from the Harvard
   Classics, Vol 2.  New York:  P.F. Collier & Son Corporation, 1937.

homo unius libri