I'm grateful this morning for the Stoics, particularly Cato's quote about why he rarely spoke. His reply: I speak only when I'm sure that what I have to say is better not left unsaid. Cato's quote reminded me of the Jewish wisdom called The Three Pillars of Speech. Basically, you should only speak if what you are about to say passes the following: 1) Is it true 2) Is it kind 3) Is it necessary If what you are about to say cannot pass the 3 pillars, then don't say it! These are wise words that I'm constantly trying to remember and apply. Additionally, I loved many other Stoic teachings that graced my ears as I climbed my triple hills this morning on my road bike. It was the first time this year that I pulled out Doc and pounded the pavement. Another thought I enjoyed was Marcus Aurelias's analogy of the family banquet. He cautioned against the impertinence of reaching across the table to grab the dish of food you want or serving yourself up hea...