
"In 1726, at the age of 20, Benjamin Franklin created a system to develop his character."
This system was his 13 Virtues; which he practiced throughout his life. I have found that putting this information in OmniFocus feels like task manager clutter as I'm not really acting on the information, it's more of a reminder to myself. I decided I wanted a way of simply seeing the current week's virtue at all times, regardless of what I'm doing on my Mac, along with the virtue's full explanation.
I came up with this script using the app TextBar to put the text in the Mac menubar:
set currentWeek to do shell script "date +%V"
if currentWeek is in {"01", "14", "27", "40"} then
return "TEMPERANCE
Eat not to dullness;
drink not to elevation."
end if
if currentWeek is in {"02", "15", "28", "41"} then
return "SILENCE
Speak not but what may
benefit others or yourself;
avoid trifling conversation."
end if
if currentWeek is in {"03", "16", "29", "42"} then
return "HUMILITY
Imitate Jesus and Socrates."
end if
if currentWeek is in {"04", "17", "30", "43"} then
return "RESOLUTION
Resolve to perform what you ought;
perform without fail what you resolve."
end if
if currentWeek is in {"05", "18", "31", "44"} then
return "FRUGALITY
Make no expense but to do good
to others or yourself;
i.e., waste nothing."
end if
if currentWeek is in {"06", "19", "32", "45"} then
return "INDUSTRY
Lose no time;
be always employ’d in something useful;
cut off all unnecessary actions."
end if
if currentWeek is in {"07", "20", "33", "46"} then
return "SINCERITY
Use no hurtful deceit;
think innocently and justly,
and, if you speak,
speak accordingly."
end if
if currentWeek is in {"08", "21", "34", "47"} then
return "JUSTICE
Wrong none by doing injuries,
or omitting the benefits that are your duty."
end if
if currentWeek is in {"09", "22", "35", "48"} then
return "MODERATION
Avoid extreams;
forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve."
end if
if currentWeek is in {"10", "23", "36", "49"} then
return "CLEANLINESS
Tolerate no uncleanliness in body,
clothes, or habitation."
end if
if currentWeek is in {"11", "24", "37", "50"} then
return "TRANQUILLITY
Be not disturbed at trifles,
or at accidents common
or unavoidable."
end if
if currentWeek is in {"12", "25", "38", "51"} then
return "ORDER
Let all your things have their places;
let each part of your business have its time."
end if
if currentWeek is in {"13", "26", "39", "52"} then
return "CHASTITY
Rarely use venery but for health or offspring,
never to dulness,
weakness,
or the injury of your own
or another’s peace or reputation."
end ifSave the script as a file named Ben.scpt in a folder named "scripts" in your home folder, then set the script to osascript $HOME/scripts/Ben.scpt; I also set the refresh interval to 10000 so it's not constantly running the script unnecessarily.
Enjoy!