The Legacy of Stoicism

Legacies of a pagan philosophy

My brother shared a job announcement on LinkedIn earlier this week, with some heartfelt commentary on the passing of our father.

I co-sign his sentiment.

We were both with my dad that last week, and the life lesson I took away was how much strength of character he had.

As a professor of biochemistry, with all the scientific knowledge that entails, he’d been running an experiment on his own body for years.

He knew the cancer had ruptured his carotid and likely knew that it had metastasized to the rest of his body.

In that last week, I never saw him afraid. He had to know what was happening, and I never saw fear or anxiety.

In fact, reflecting on it further, I never saw my dad express fear or anxiety.

Ever.

We bathed him, we helped him move back and forth from the hospice bed to his favorite spot on the couch, and tried to tend to his physical needs.

He didn’t make any emotional demands.

He was a perfect gentleman.

He demonstrated behavior that I hope to model throughout the rest of my life.

That little voice in your head is your conscience, and I’ve heard that it is the voice of your parents.

He was never loud, but his behavior in that last week spoke volumes.

A doctor cousin of mine who was with him in his last moments later said, “the future of the hospital is in the home”, and as our generation faces the mortality of the Boomers, I wish y’all get to witness the peace and strength of your loved ones.