Marcus wrote that the mind adapts and turns to its own purposes whatever blocks its path, so that the thing standing in the way becomes the way. A fire grows on what's thrown to smother it. This isn't pretending the obstacle is good. It's refusing to be merely stopped by it. The delayed plan teaches patience. The hard person teaches you something about yourself. The setback reveals a better route you'd never have found on the open road. You don't have to be glad the obstacle is there. You only have to ask the working question: now that it's here, what can I make of it?

Inspired by the old idea of amor fati. Written by Ugo Charles.