PDX Stoa - Stoic Philosophy Discussion Group

The world is moving very fast right now.

People are rushing. Notifications are exploding. Someone nearby is having an emotional emergency about something that absolutely will not matter in six months. Probably less. You can practically hear the collective nervous system vibrating.

And there you are, wondering if it is possible to remain a functioning adult without becoming a twitchy, reactive mess.

Good news. The Stoics figured this out about two thousand years ago. Even better news: they did it without podcasts, productivity apps, or inspirational posters telling you to hustle harder.

Stoicism is not about suppressing emotions, retreating to a cave, or pretending everything is fine while your inner monologue screams. It’s about learning how to stay steady when the world insists on flailing. It is the ancient art of not letting other people’s panic rent space in your head.

PDX Stoa is a monthly gathering of people who like this idea and want to practice it together. We sit down. We slow down. We read short passages of Stoic wisdom that are shockingly relevant to modern life. We talk about how to apply them to traffic, work, relationships, aging, inboxes, and the general chaos of being a human.

There is no guru. No one is “enlightened.” Everyone is still working on it. Some of us are better at it on Tuesdays than Thursdays. This is normal.

What you will find here is a group of thoughtful people who enjoy good conversation, quiet insight, and the radical act of responding calmly while the world continues to lose its mind at full volume.

The chaos does not stop.
You just stop letting it shove you around.

Pull up a chair.