Coming up: Stoic Month of Service
Step up for the 1000 Stoics Challenge
Have I done something useful to my fellows? Then I have already profited. May you keep this thought ever at hand and never cease from such action.
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 11.4
With spring just around the corner, I wanted to let everyone know about an annual event hosted by The Stoic Fellowship that will be coming up soon: the Stoic Month of Service and the 1000 Stoics Challenge. Every year TSF asks its members all around the world—as well as anyone else who wants to participate—to perform as many acts of kindness and service as possible. The goal is to reach 1000 documented acts of service. Not only are we helping other people, we are also showing the world that Stoicism is all about caring for others, not detaching yourself from them.
The 1000 Stoics Challenge has been going strong for several years now, and we are aiming to make 2025 the best year yet. So if you’re interested in taking part, here are a few things to know.
Everyone can participate! You don’t have to be a member of a Stoic group, although if you want to join a group, you can check out TSF’s communities map to find the closest one to you. You can also register for the Fellowship’s online community, where you can connect with other Stoics from all over the world. This is especially useful if there aren’t any in-person groups near you. It’s always nice to talk with other people who share your values and goals in life.
To join the challenge, you can do anything helpful. A few suggested activities include donating blood, volunteering for a local park cleanup, or even buying a coffee for the person in line behind you at the coffee shop. Your act of service can be for someone close to you (family member, friend, neighbor) or someone on the other side of the world. It could also be caring for the environment. Really the sky is the limit as long as you are demonstrating care for others.
You can participate on your own or with others. It’s always fun to do things as a group, so if you have a friend or even a whole group who can jump in with you, that’s wonderful. (The more people, the more acts of service!) But of course participating on your own is great too. Whatever works with your schedule and the particular opportunities around you.
Document and share your act of service. Record your good deed by emailing james at stoicfellowship dot com. Or take pictures and share on Instagram under #1000STOICS #STOICSCARE. You can also reach out to The Stoic Fellowship at any time here to ask questions or share an act of service. Or feel free to message me here on Substack if you prefer. I can help get you to the right place.
The challenge is still a few weeks away, but spring is a very busy time so I wanted to get this on your calendar before it’s filled up with other commitments. If you’re interested in participating but not really sure what to do next, feel free to leave a comment and I can give you some ideas.
Also, I know many of you area already doing community service and various other good deeds—and we would love for you to include these in the 1000 Stoics Challenge! Please document any service you perform in April so it can be counted.
And if you’re modest and feel like it’s boastful to share your good acts with other people, don’t worry. We can count your deed without announcing your name publicly. I often feel this way myself, and I think in most cases it’s true that we shouldn’t expect public recognition from helping others. However, in this case things are a bit different because sharing your act of service is itself an act of service. So even if you are modest about your good deeds, I would encourage you to make an exception this time and share it with others.
Thank you to all of you who are making the world a better place in some way. May the good work continue!
Photo credit: Kenny Eliason on Unsplash