| I was speaking to someone the other day who was | | | | arts. |
| getting fed up with her martial arts instruction. | | | | But it is encrusted in dung. |
| Claiming to be misunderstood, persecuted, and | | | | If you want the diamond, you have to reach for it |
| unpopular, she felt the whole commitment was too | | | | where it is, smack in the middle of that smelly stuff. |
| much to take, and she insisted she wanted time off | | | | Your treasure is in the hands of your instructors, |
| from the dojo. | | | | whose job it is to make you confront yourself, your |
| No problem, that happens, and sometimes it's what | | | | inadequacies, fears, and submerged secrets. |
| everybody needs to regain proper perspective, to see | | | | You can blame them all you want for your woes, but |
| that the grass isn't greener, and most of our | | | | that won't help you at all. |
| discomforts are self-inflicted. | | | | Like any movie hero, such as Indiana Jones, you have |
| But I gave her an illustration, one that I've read many | | | | to go through some scary, slithery, serpanty stuff |
| times in martial arts books. | | | | before you emerge with the jewels or the Holy Grail, |
| You have to "steal" your training, this wisdom says, | | | | or whatever you're seeking. |
| which means you have to aggressively take from | | | | Once you commit to doing whatever it takes, the task |
| your training what you need. It's not going to be handed | | | | becomes easier, but never really easy. |
| to you on a platter. | | | | After all, we don't respect treasures that are simply |
| I see it this way. There is a diamond, a big, beautiful | | | | handed to us, do we? |
| multifaceted treasure that is waiting for us in martial | | | | |