“Begin at once to live,” Seneca.

Seneca was a Roman dramatist who lived from 3 B.C. to A.D. 65 (I looked up the exact dates). This realization brought about an interesting chain of thoughts. If he could live fully, it should be easier for us to do it. Consider these facts.

• Seneca lived without plumbing, electricity, air conditioning or refrigeration.

• Seneca probably walked everywhere; perhaps he rode a horse, or rode in a carriage. There were no cars, buses, trains or airplanes. He could not travel as far or as fast as we can.

• Seneca lived without mass circulation media, no newspapers, no magazines, probably few books, no television, no telephone, no computers, no faxes and no e-mail.

• Seneca had a limited diet and little knowledge of exercise. Since Seneca lived for 68 years, he enjoyed a very long life for his time. How well do you take advantage of the basically unlimited array of healthy foods and the opportunity to exercise according to science?

• Seneca lived in a time of poor hygiene and a primitive medical system compared to what we have available today.

• Seneca did have some of the same challenges we have today. He had politics to contend with. The Emperor Caligula once suggested that Seneca’s health would be better outside of Rome. Seneca took the hint and went into exile until Caligula’s death.

• Seneca did have a sense of purpose. He wrote plays. Several that are still famous and widely read like Agamemnon and Oedipus.

• Seneca was an intellectual who sought to discuss and answer the major questions of life. Why are we born? Where do we come from? What happens after death?

Seneca urges us to live fully now. Not tomorrow, but immediately. We can have glimpses of how he did it through his writings and biographies. We also know that he had few of what we consider necessities. Aren’t many of them luxuries beyond the imagination of the greatest thinkers who lived 20 centuries ago?

How alive are you right now? How involved in the present are you? How focused are you on your goals? How much responsibility do you take for your current situation? How much do you feel others are responsible for? Think seriously about the difference between life in ancient Rome and your life today? Is there anything that you are thankful for? Are there other parts of your life you should be thankful for?

Tim O’Brien writes continuing-education courses and presents seminars on stress management.

Readers may write to him at 3023 Shannon Lakes Dr., No. 102, Tallahassee, Fla. 32309, or send e-mail to [email protected]. He also has a Web site at www.hyperstress.com.