Everything has two handles.
Where this comes from
Epictetus taught that you can pick anything up by one of two handles: one you can carry it by, and one you can’t. His example, written down about 1,900 years ago, was a brother who treats you unfairly. Grab it by ‘he was unfair’ and it is too heavy. Grab it by ‘he is my brother’ and you can carry it.
How you could say it to a five-year-old
“He grabbed your car. Not fair! I’ll help get it back. He’s still your train-building brother.”
Epictetus, Enchiridion 43. We put these lines into plain English ourselves, staying close to the original and to public-domain translations.
A story to read together
A book for the two of youThe Free SpiritMore on big feelings
Some things are up to us, and others are not.
It isn’t what happens that upsets us, but what we think about it.
Wish for things to be as they are, and life flows easily.
Your mind is dyed by what you think about most.
We are troubled more often by what we imagine than by what is real.
What’s up to you, and what isn’tReady for a story together?The Free SpiritWant the next one?
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