1 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:18,720 Speaker 1: What Up. I am Dramas and this is the Street 2 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 1: Stoic Podcast, bringing you your daily dose of timeless stoic 3 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:28,000 Speaker 1: philosophy remix for the hip hop generation. We are combining 4 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:31,240 Speaker 1: ancient philosophy with lyrics and quotes from some of the 5 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:35,120 Speaker 1: greatest who ever grace a microphone. Now, with that in mind, 6 00:00:35,479 --> 00:00:38,640 Speaker 1: let's get things started with your daily shot of inspiration. 7 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:47,440 Speaker 1: Now today, we're gonna be focusing all around these stoic 8 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:53,200 Speaker 1: idea of gratitude, but specifically gratitude for the simple things 9 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 1: in life right at the profound impact that these simple 10 00:00:56,640 --> 00:01:00,280 Speaker 1: things can have. And I pulled a couple of different 11 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 1: things when I was researching it, but one of the 12 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 1: lyrics that I think kind of stuck out to me 13 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:07,080 Speaker 1: as a part of this conversation, and bear with me, 14 00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:08,399 Speaker 1: I'm going to kind of take you on a bit 15 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 1: of a ride that's not so obvious with this lyric, 16 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:14,360 Speaker 1: but it's from Kars One. It's off of Boogie Down Productions, 17 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:18,680 Speaker 1: and it says, quote, I am the manifestation of study, 18 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:23,199 Speaker 1: not the manifestation of money. Therefore, I advanced through thought, 19 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 1: not what's manufactured and bought. And I specifically want to 20 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:32,119 Speaker 1: focus on the part about valuing thought over money, right, 21 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:36,959 Speaker 1: the idea of devaluing materialistic things, you know, and advancing 22 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 1: through thoughts and being intentional and being present. And I 23 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:41,320 Speaker 1: know I'm throwing a lot of things in there that 24 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:45,679 Speaker 1: weren't necessarily said verbatim, but I think when you begin 25 00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:49,040 Speaker 1: to explore the idea of valuing your mind over these 26 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 1: superficial things like money or materialistic goods, you know, be 27 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 1: it sneakers or handbags, whatever it might be, you begin 28 00:01:56,880 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 1: to really hone in on your power and what is 29 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:04,000 Speaker 1: incredibly important. Right. He's talking about, you know, study in 30 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 1: more of the literal sense here, but I also think 31 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:10,840 Speaker 1: studying could pertain to being mindful and present to the 32 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:12,760 Speaker 1: people that are around you, as well as being mindful 33 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:15,840 Speaker 1: and present to your own interests and needs and the 34 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:18,799 Speaker 1: things that make you happy. Right. It's about putting thought 35 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 1: into the things that you do for yourself and others. 36 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 1: And this kind of leads us to a quote from 37 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 1: one of the Stokes. And he's not technically one of 38 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:29,480 Speaker 1: the Stokes. He's actually technically a Cynic, but he was 39 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:33,680 Speaker 1: one of the teachers who helped inspire the creation of 40 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:36,520 Speaker 1: Stoicism as we know it. And this is Diogenes right, 41 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 1: And he says, quote, a child can teach us much 42 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:44,679 Speaker 1: about the plainness of living, right, the idea that life 43 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:47,799 Speaker 1: is actually far more simple than we are trained to 44 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:51,840 Speaker 1: make it. Right. Life is about creating memories, and it's 45 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:55,240 Speaker 1: not about grandiose gestures. Right, It's far more about the 46 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:58,360 Speaker 1: things that fulfill your mind rather than your ego, because 47 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, those are the things 48 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 1: that truly retain their value and genuinely make a profound 49 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 1: impact on somebody's life. And for me personally, I relate 50 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:11,880 Speaker 1: to this in a really deep way, you know. I 51 00:03:11,919 --> 00:03:14,480 Speaker 1: think for me, I've talked about my parents on the 52 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 1: show before, and for me, I think as a kid, 53 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:21,399 Speaker 1: my parents failed to see what I needed because to them, 54 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:24,520 Speaker 1: you know, I had no right to complain about anything, 55 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:27,080 Speaker 1: because of all the things that they provided me. Right, 56 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:31,240 Speaker 1: And I think that oftentimes our parents sort of missed 57 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:34,200 Speaker 1: the point of what's actually important to us as children. 58 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 1: I think for me not having you know, times that 59 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 1: I could point to where my parents maybe took a 60 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 1: specific interest in my creative side. Right. And as an adult, 61 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:45,960 Speaker 1: when you begin to break down the effects that things 62 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 1: like that have on you, where you may have a 63 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 1: lack of confidence in your work. I know it's something 64 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:52,800 Speaker 1: that I struggled with, right. For example, You know, I 65 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 1: can remember my parents sacrificing to buy me a drum set, right, 66 00:03:57,080 --> 00:04:00,600 Speaker 1: and that was an incredible moment. But in the long term, 67 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 1: once that sort of shininess of this new toy faded, 68 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:06,920 Speaker 1: I wanted my parents to also be invested in my 69 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 1: growth as a musician, right, Like, I can remember calling 70 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:14,559 Speaker 1: them down to hear me play and oftentimes being disappointed 71 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:17,920 Speaker 1: by their lack of reaction or enthusiasm. And again, it's 72 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 1: not their fault. They didn't understand what a good drummer 73 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:23,160 Speaker 1: look like or what progression looked like as far as 74 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:25,800 Speaker 1: somebody learning a new instrument. But for me growing up, 75 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:29,280 Speaker 1: what felt like it was missing was their own enthusiasm 76 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:32,360 Speaker 1: for my interest in this right, And I think as 77 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:34,440 Speaker 1: a kid, that sort of feels like a lack of 78 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:36,800 Speaker 1: investment in you. You know, all you want to do 79 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:39,800 Speaker 1: is impress your parents, right, the people that you look 80 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:42,800 Speaker 1: up to, And in those moments where it doesn't feel 81 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 1: like they're taking an interest, you know, it is a 82 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:47,920 Speaker 1: hit to your confidence. It makes you question am I talented? 83 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 1: Am I good at this thing. I must not be, 84 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 1: because nobody here, the people closest to me are not 85 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 1: taking an interest in coming and hearing me play and 86 00:04:56,680 --> 00:05:00,240 Speaker 1: showcase what I've learned. And again that's something that you know, 87 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:03,080 Speaker 1: I've carried on into adulthood and something that I continue 88 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 1: to kind of battle with till this day. And I 89 00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:08,480 Speaker 1: still continue to where I might create something and then 90 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 1: I doubt myself, and then I hold back and I 91 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:13,080 Speaker 1: prolonged putting it out and releasing as the world, and 92 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:15,720 Speaker 1: I give myself all types of excuses as to why 93 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:18,039 Speaker 1: it's not ready. And a lot of that is is 94 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:21,240 Speaker 1: the lack of confidence that was instilled in me as 95 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 1: as a kid. Right, And this goes back to the 96 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:26,839 Speaker 1: idea of thought right from Kreus one. He's mentioning the 97 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 1: value of your mind. And that's what I think a 98 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 1: lot of parents and caregivers oftentimes sort of miss is that, 99 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:35,560 Speaker 1: of course we love the gifts, but what actually shapes 100 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:38,760 Speaker 1: us as human beings, what actually leaves a profound mark 101 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:41,799 Speaker 1: on us, are the times that we spent with those 102 00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 1: loved ones, right, the interest that they took in us 103 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:47,400 Speaker 1: that eventually instilled the confidence that we may have had 104 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:49,400 Speaker 1: to go and chase after the things that we wanted, 105 00:05:49,520 --> 00:05:52,000 Speaker 1: right when we got that co sign from somebody that 106 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:56,040 Speaker 1: we looked up to, essentially valuing our interests and they 107 00:05:56,040 --> 00:05:58,359 Speaker 1: themselves taking an interest in it, you know, sort of 108 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:01,120 Speaker 1: solidifying the value and the things that we found to 109 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:03,320 Speaker 1: be interesting, right. And I think that that's sort of 110 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 1: this idea of valuing the mind over the materialistic things, right, 111 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 1: and having gratitude for those simple moments in life, and 112 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 1: those moments of being present to the needs of somebody 113 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:17,160 Speaker 1: you care about, to the interests, to the wants of 114 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:20,119 Speaker 1: somebody you care about. And again we see it most 115 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:22,799 Speaker 1: in the eyes of children, where they don't need much 116 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:25,479 Speaker 1: to be happy, you know, as long as they have 117 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:29,680 Speaker 1: their mind and their creativity and our given love and attention, 118 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:32,039 Speaker 1: children find a way to be happy, you know, with 119 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 1: just the simple things in a life. And I think 120 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:37,120 Speaker 1: there is a lesson for us as adults to learn 121 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 1: in that ability to find happiness in these simple things. Now, 122 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 1: with that in mind, man, we have heard from one 123 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:46,320 Speaker 1: of the great philosophers of ancient history. We have heard 124 00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:48,599 Speaker 1: from one of the greatest too ever Grace a microphone 125 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:51,040 Speaker 1: care us. One I've talked about how this is how 126 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:54,559 Speaker 1: to profound impact in my life. Now let's talk about 127 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:57,680 Speaker 1: how you can make it your mantra for today. But 128 00:06:57,800 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 1: first let's take a quick break and then we'll be 129 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 1: read that. All right, So we have heard from Karus one. 130 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 1: I have, you know, shared with you from one of 131 00:07:14,960 --> 00:07:18,880 Speaker 1: the great philosophers of all time, Diogenes. I've also given 132 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 1: you a bit of personal insight into my own story 133 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:25,440 Speaker 1: and my own connection with this whole idea of gratitude 134 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:27,960 Speaker 1: for the little things in life. And now let's talk 135 00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:30,760 Speaker 1: about how you can make it your mantra for today. Now, 136 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 1: I think the most important thing about this whole idea 137 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:37,200 Speaker 1: is the idea of being intentional, right, and learning to 138 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 1: be intentional with those around you and yourself. And what 139 00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 1: exactly does that mean. I think it means, you know, 140 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 1: not sort of just taking the moment for granted, but 141 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:48,920 Speaker 1: but really soaking up whatever's happening in front of you 142 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 1: in the present moment, you know, listening to what the 143 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 1: people are around you are saying, what they're expressing. You know, 144 00:07:54,760 --> 00:07:58,239 Speaker 1: I think we all fail to realize that oftentimes people 145 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:00,920 Speaker 1: are just looking to be heard or they're sharing with 146 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:03,320 Speaker 1: us exactly what they need from us, But we just 147 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 1: have to take the time to listen so that we 148 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:07,560 Speaker 1: can we can give it to them, right, And I 149 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:10,720 Speaker 1: think it's about simplifying life a bit and just getting 150 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:13,880 Speaker 1: back to more of that joy that you had, you know, 151 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 1: as a kid. Right Again, the child within us somehow 152 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 1: knows a bit more than we give it credit for. 153 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:22,920 Speaker 1: You know, think about as a kid, how little you 154 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:25,720 Speaker 1: needed to have fun. You know, where you can lose 155 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:30,000 Speaker 1: you know, hours in a day playing and using your imagination. Right, 156 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:32,719 Speaker 1: And I think that speaks to our mind being the 157 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:36,400 Speaker 1: greatest asset that we could have. Yet we often put 158 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 1: it on the back burner or put it in the 159 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:42,319 Speaker 1: back seat for some trend or some societal check mark, 160 00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:46,160 Speaker 1: and we ignore it and we forget that. Oftentimes our 161 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:51,400 Speaker 1: emptiness or lack of fulfillment comes from not listening to ourselves, right, 162 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:54,120 Speaker 1: not listening to that child inside of us. And instead, 163 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:57,000 Speaker 1: you know, we try to block it out or silence 164 00:08:57,080 --> 00:09:00,080 Speaker 1: that child by you know, trying to self medicate with 165 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:02,680 Speaker 1: some sort of quick fix, you know, like shopping or 166 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:05,720 Speaker 1: going out or food or some other vice. Right, we 167 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:09,240 Speaker 1: do something to numb ourselves in the present moment, when 168 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:11,880 Speaker 1: the reality is we just have to slow down and 169 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:14,320 Speaker 1: get back to our mind and appreciate our mind and 170 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:16,040 Speaker 1: appreciate the fact that our mind has all of the 171 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:18,360 Speaker 1: answers we are searching for. Right again, I think it's 172 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 1: tapping back into that child that is within us and 173 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:25,120 Speaker 1: seeing what they need, you know, understanding that again the 174 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:28,160 Speaker 1: answer it comes from our own thoughts, right, not some 175 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:32,560 Speaker 1: sort of outside symbol of materialistic wealth or some sort 176 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:35,679 Speaker 1: of outside approval like our own happiness, and the answers 177 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:38,240 Speaker 1: that we seek are inside of us. We just have 178 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:40,880 Speaker 1: to sit down and listen, take the time to be 179 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:44,000 Speaker 1: grateful for the present moment, be grateful for our mind, 180 00:09:44,040 --> 00:09:47,360 Speaker 1: and value it over anything else. Now, with that said, 181 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:50,120 Speaker 1: thank you so much for checking out the Streets slic podcast. 182 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:53,520 Speaker 1: Do your best to apply these concepts and philosophies that 183 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 1: we've discussed into everyday life, and I'll catch y'all next time. 184 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 1: The Street Stove podcast is a production of Iheart's Michael 185 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:06,679 Speaker 1: Tura podcast Network.