The sign reads 03.10.2023. The road is smooth, the sky is clear, the sun is shining. Life is good. There’s chaos all around us but we have a choice to participate or ignore it. Marcus Aurelius said, “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.” Willie Nelson said, “Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results.” You know the drill. Think happy, be happy. Today is Festival of Life in the Cracks Day, International Bagpipe Day, International Day of Awesomeness, Landline Telephone Day, Mario Day, Middle Name Pride Day, National Blueberry Popover Day, National Preschooler’s Day, National Ranch Day, Pack Your Lunch Day, Salvation Army Day, and US Paper Money Day. Onto history: On this day in 418 Jews were excluded from holding public office in the Roman Empire. On this day in 1849 Abraham Lincoln applied for a patent for a device to lift a oat over shoals and obstructions. He was the only President to apply for a patent. On this day in 1862 the US issued its 1st paper money. On this day in 1893 New Mexico State University cancelled its 1st graduation ceremony. Its only graduate (Sam Steele) was robbed and killed the night before. On this day in 1906 Europe’s worst mining accident happened when a coal dust explosion killed 1,060 people in Courrieres, France. On this day in 1933 Nevada became the 1st state to regulate narcotics. On this day in 1964 Simon and Garfunkel recorded “The Sound of Silence”. In 1969 on this day James Earl Ray plead guilty to the murder of Martin Luther King Jr. This is one of those days when quotable dead people are hard to find. I’ll go with plan B which is quoting stoic philosophers. Epictetus said, “Just keep in mind: the more we value things outside our control, the less control we have.” Marcus Aurelius said, “The tranquility that comes when you stop caring what they say, or think, or do. Only what you do.” Diogenes said, “He has the most who is content with the least”. Seneca said, “The mind that is anxious about future events is miserable.” I’m doing my best to listen to them and act accordingly. Hope you are too. Abide.