Sunday, November 28, 2010

Carpe Diem

We need to stop as a people doing things, "after this other thing is over." For years and years i have been going to do things, after the PA Ren Faire season. It is so easy for things and year to fly by that way. I have so many people tell me they are coming to my martial arts class after something else happens. I will do it after the New Year, after this project at work gets done, etc. Later. When i get around to it.

If you want to do something, you need to start it now. There is no time to waste. Carlos Castaneda talked about warriors. Warriors are those who realize that their death is waiting by their left shoulder to tag them. When Death tags you,that is it. The warrior has to act because the warrior realizes that each action may be the last battle we get on earth. If you have something you have been wanting to get started, do it. No excuses. Especially when it comes to things like quitting smoking, working out, praying, etc. Any thing that will improve the quality of your life will not start improving your life until you start doing it.

I think i first realized this about playing D&D with my friends. We always say we want to get a game going and at one point i realize we have been saying that since the 2000 faire season. Finally i just started a game.

Watch Dead Poets' Society too. A lot of insight there. We are ultimately food for worms and to me that seems very liberating. It is like the Sioux blessing, "Hoka Hey." It means "it is a good day to die." You look at life and say thank you for what you have and realize each moment is a blessing. Can you look at today and honestly say that if you died today you would be happy with your last battle on earth. The question, "What would you do if you had only one year to live?" or a day or a week or a month is a BS question. We may, each and every one of us only have that long. I might walk out of my house today and get hit by a bus. We need to live every day as if it is the last day we are going to have because it might be. Live each day infinitely. Be ready for your death to touch on the shoulder and understand and live each moment as if it may be your last act in this lifetime.

What i am really saying is, hey all of you that keep saying you want to come to class, come to class. Suck the marrow out of life and do something. We are all busy but today is the day. Today is really the only day. We live in an evolving present moment. See you at class... i won't get my hopes up, but i do hope you come.

"I'll do it tomorrow." ~Rocky Balboa
"There is no tomorrow! There is no tomorrow!!!" ~Apollo Creed