We do decide, however, how we “take” it and more importantly, how we react.
A quick word from the book of the samurai, the Hagakure:
“One who is fatigued when unhappy is useless”
Tough – but fair.
Keep it in mind, today.
When you committed a capital offense, it fell to the Samurai to cut your head off.In Feudal Japan, they didn’t have electric chairs.
They used a sword to put criminals to death.
A samurai’s sword, properly taken care of, and proper technique would make short work of the offending parties head.
Senior samurai watched this event with great concern.
The reason? It was a quick test to see if the samurai had his priorities in order.
To properly take care of your sword, you have to spend a meaningful amount of time cleaning and maintaining the sword. The same goes for your body.
Spend too much time drinking or hanging out? That cut was going to be ugly when it counted, and you would face great shame.
Same if you spent too much time reading or writing poetry (samurai were artisans as well).
“Good” or “bad” didn’t matter. Not having your priorities straight, did.
I don’t cut off heads. However, I think there is a great lesson in this idea.
To keep your sword sharp, use the word, “no.”
From the desk of Adam Thomas 