Having recently attended a family funeral, it got me thinking about what is a good life? Can we live quietly and happily and it be a good life? Ovid, writing from the heart of the Roman Empire, offered a piece of advice that feels almost subversive today: live obscurely and quietly. In a culture that prized status, reputation, and proximity to power, Ovid suggested that a good life might be found not in visibility, but in withdrawal.

We live in a culture where the dominant force is loudness: being seen, being loud, and making your voice heard. Even that phrase is...

Pretty good list about how to respect someone's space!