ALL are preserved and improved by operations correspondent to their several faculties; as a carpenter, by building; a grammarian, by grammar; but if he accustom himself to write ungrammatically, his art will necessarily be spoiled and destroyed. Thus modest actions preserve the modest man, and immodest ones destroy him; faithful actions, the faithful man, and the contrary destroy him. On the other hand, contrary actions heighten contrary characters. Thus impudence, an impudent one; knavery, a knavish one; slander, a slanderous one; anger, an angry one; and inequitable dealings, a covetous one.

EPICTETUS. DISCOURSES. Book ii. §9. ¶2

Today I am reminded of my introduction to programming in University, the principle of "Garbage In/Garbage Out".  What we put into our minds, bodies and spirit is what we will put out into our lives and the society around us.  We need to be ever mindful of what influences we are encouraging in our lives, choose the best of what is available, be discerning and judge the things that we allow to have precedence in our lives.
Especially in this day of rushing around and modernity, we need to be discerning about the varied influences we allow into the minutiae of our days and focus on the best of things.

Swiftly Moving Sand

And as for life, whether for a long or short time he shall enjoy his soul thus compassed about with a body, he is altogether indifferent. For if even now he were to depart, he is as ready for it, as for any other action, which may be performed with modesty, and decency. For all his life long, this is his only care, that his mind may always be occupied in such intentions and objects, as are proper to a rational sociable creature. - Marcus Aurelius Meditations Book 3 Section 7

This morning's reading is a good reminder to focus on things that do not cause imbalance in my life.  If the pursuit of something causes me to desire it above all else, if it causes me to neglect my family, love or society then it is not something that should be my focus.  There are only so many hours in the day.  I need to focus on the things that bring lasting pleasure and not on the fleeting.  The sands in the hourglass are certainly appearing to move at a faster pace these days.  Time to focus on getting the big rocks into the jar again!