I’ve mentioned this in my book — I don’t see why Montaigne felt obliged to stretch out his thin concept about parlaying and trust to a second essay, one that breaks even less ground. He felt obliged to bring up a bit more about military tactics and whether it’s acceptable to take advantage of your enemy’s ignorance to achieve victory.

Today, that seems to be the primary tool of warfare. But I want to take a step back from all this to state the obvious — I don’t have any adversaries in my life at this moment and have no interest in creating any.

The focus of these essays so far has been squarely on me and there’s a good reason for that. I’ve been self-congratulating quite a bit lately about my own state of mind and centeredness. So I’m shaking myself up a little bit and challenging that supposed zen state of mind.

I can’t take this too far. I’ve already gone through a period of my life where I thought it would be in my best interest to apply my affinity for difficulty to my emotions. It didn’t go very well and it’s not something I’d advise for anyone. Emotional challenges just beget more emotional challenges, there’s no mountain to climb.

So, in other words, the greatest emotional adversary any of us can face is ourselves. We can choose to paint the bleakest possible picture and to focus on life’s disappointments, no one is going to stop us. But it’s not going to lead anywhere pleasant.

In fact, I’ve learned is best to apply a “who would this expression benefit in this moment” test to the things I say and write, especially if there’s a tinge of anger or resentment to what I’m attempting to express. In nearly all cases, it’s not worth it to let the bad feelings out.

So, it’s a challenge to let myself in while keeping the performative emotions out. So far, no one’s aware that I’ve started writing about Montaigne again and nothing here will grace a new published volume, so I have freedom to roam.

Let’s see if I can keep myself out of harm’s way.