Meditations 7.45:

“It’s like this, gentlemen of the jury: The spot where a person decides to station himself, or wherever his commanding officer stations him—well, I think that’s where he ought to take his stand and face the enemy, and not worry about being killed, or about anything but doing his duty.”

Marcus Aurelius just happened to be the commander-in-chief of all the armies of Rome. He was the most powerful man on the planet at the time. But even he didn’t always get to choose the terms of battle or have the advantage of the high ground or the luxury of waiting till the weather was nice.

Wherever you may be when the fight begins, make your stand there. Own the circumstances as if you had chosen them. Then give it your all.

The true enemy is the version of yourself that settles for momentary comfort over enduring excellence. Kick his ass.

Your duty is to be the best you can be, to do the most with what you’ve got wherever you may be.

Take your stand right here, right now.