Seneca wrote this to a friend suffering from illness. He acknowledged the pain — but taught that how one *holds* that pain matters more than the pain itself. Panic, dread, and self-pity add weight to what is already heavy. But calmness, like strong shoulders, can carry suffering with dignity. Seneca's own life was full of trials, yet he often chose the lens of serenity over complaint. This was not repression, but resilience.