Endless patience

Have you ever watched a cat stalk something? The pure patience of cats, in this regard, is impressive. They sit perfectly still (aside from a twitching tail) and track their victim with their eyes. Slowly, they move into position, glide forward when unobserved, wait and watch. Then, their muscles coil, their body bunches, eyes widen and breathing slows. The moment of attack is unexpected, sudden, and often successful. Being on the wrong end of such activity is unnerving, to say the least.


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This is a visual example of patience. We all have the capacity to wait, but many of us have a hard time doing it. It's likely because when we sit still, we feel the lack of movement in a psychological way. We get jittery, restless, and want to fill the silence with any sort of noise. I've read that if people are subjected to a pure white room, with zero noise at all, they go absolutely nutty. However, you can learn to be patient, and it's a skill well worth developing. Take a pause, catch your breath, and simply let the world whirl past. After a while, you'll find it refreshing to step away from the chaos of modern life.

Isn't it strange how when people actively escape the frenzy of activity, they are considered hermits, or worse? Sure, it's unusual, but why such animosity against people who only want a slower paced life? I don't know the answer to that. What I do know, is we live life at far too great a pace. There's plenty of reason to slow down and enjoy life for what it is. Not everything should be done in a hurry. My wife's father was the greatest example of patience I've ever witnessed, and he remains an inspiration to me to this day.

So, take the time to let the threads of life out of your grasp for a while. Bask in the silence. Pay attention to the world around you. You don't need to be a hunter to have patience, just the willingness. Maybe the results will surprise you, frustrate you, or encourage you. Patience is a worthy skill to develop.

- M

Timeless beauty.

Standards of beauty are fickle, right? Fashion trends change practically daily, and we are told, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder." That's all correct. But, it's also totally wrong. There is timeless beauty around us daily: flowers, sunsets, sunrises, clouds, birds, the geometry of nautilus shells, the pattern of planets around the sun, musical wind, thunderstorms, rain, fresh air. In the eye of the beholder? Who can find fault in the glory of warm sunlight on the skin? That's timeless beauty, and all we need to do is pay attention. Isn't that incredible?



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Why do we value beauty so much? Aside from being pleasant to look at, is there any other reason? Advertisers spend billions on models who strut around wearing products. Movies, generally speaking, feature attractive actors playing the parts. Smiling beauties sell more stuff than frowning ordinary people. There's something in our brains that responds favorably to beauty with an endorphin surge. There's quite literally a physical reaction to beauty. You see this in various ways: pupils dilating, posture straightening, smiles, and a whole host of other responses. Have you ever bent over to smell the flowers? That's a positive response.

And, yet, we go around scoring beauty wherever we find it. Flowers aren't colorful enough, the babbling brook isn't quite the right sound, our hair isn't curly or is too curly, the sunset is too red. Actually, I bet we complain about nearly every aspect of beauty, while simultaneously being jealous of it at the same time. We battle this impulse by acknowledging timeless beauty, that never changes and is always gorgeous. And, there's beauty in actions as well: the warm hugs of family, a champion's graciousness to those behind, the helping hands of rescuers, and the strong shoulders of comforters. When you discover timeless beauty, spend a few moments to cherish the experience. It's well worth the effort and time.

- M

Forgiveness and renewal, two very important themes.

One reason why stories are created, is to form the framework of forgiveness. A surprising number of tragic stories are made primarily to spread forgiveness and to renew faith in humanity. Of course, it doesn't take tragedy to grant forgiveness, as many other kinds of stories prove, yet the device is well suited to bring catharsis to the audience (that is, to set free the pent up emotions and provide relief). Scary stories do this in a way, but it's the deep and haunting tales that grip your heart that provide the best return.

Many people find forgiveness very hard to secure. Whether it be forgiving themselves, or others, people like to hold grudges. Stories can teach how to forgive, why to forgive, and when to forgive. It's safe to say that even grudging forgiveness is better than allowing pain and hurt to fester inside. Look at the tale of "Hamlet" by Shakespeare, and we find a family incapable of forgiving anyone, and it leads to the doom of them all. What a powerful example! More recently, look at the musical fiction "The Greatest Showman," and the amount of forgiveness and renewal on constant display is breathtaking. I especially love how his wife and family renew the main character's passion for life by their forgiveness. It's inspiring.

Why do stories tackle such heavy and powerful themes? Well, why not? Stories are part of our human nature, so authors pour themselves into creating them. It's natural to talk about anything important to us. Also, stories provide a safe way to learn and express ideas. We get to experience situations unknown to us, and see how people might behave. When we watch other people forgive and experience renewal, it's easier for us to do the same. I love reading books where the main character is shattered personally, and then later is renewed to life. Stories aren't merely entertainment, but powerful platforms for teaching.

- M

The Karate Kid 2, a movie about much more than fighting.

One of my very favorite movies is "The Karate Kid 2." It follows the adventures of Daniel and Mr. Miyagi. Unlike many sequels, you don't need to have seen the first. Actually, it may be better to see the movies in reverse order, because "The Karate Kid 2" is the story of Mr. Miyagi. The history of this martial arts teacher is profound, deep, and resonates so well that I'd wish I had known more about him in the first movie. Sure, in the first he's a mysterious presence, but understanding who and what he is would have made the relationship between master and student far more complex and believable.

Generally speaking, the second movie is considered better than the first. Why is that? It's very simple, it's because the audience already understands the world and the players and the motivations. So, we hit the ground running and are able to quickly get into more substantial plots. Think of the widely believed best Star Wars movie, "The Empire Strikes Back." There is no setup of characters, no setup of what's going on, just an immediate danger and the beginning of Luke Skywalker's Jedi training. The movie starts with the story already progressing at a fast clip. That's taking full advantage of the history of the first film and efficiently adding to it.

Back to "The Karate Kid 2," the best part of the story is how seriously the events and cultures are treated. Mr. Miyagi's father dies at the start, and there is reverence throughout. Okinawan culture is shown with no hint of comedic wit, but instead with dignity and understanding. This film seems much more real than the first, with real problems and real heroics. Yes, having the Karate Kid win battles is basically the task of both movies, but in the sequel he earns the victory. You see him struggle and overcome, but not just him. You see, Mr. Miyagi grows too. There are huge character arcs for all the main people.

There's a test I have done with many books over the years. I flip to the last page and read the last few paragraphs. I'm looking to be surprised and to wonder how the characters got to that point. If I'm not surprised, then I know the characters don't change much. "The Karate Kid 2" passes with bright colors. It's not only a fun movie, but a good movie that teaches as well as entertains. There are lessons in compassion, forgiveness, loss, honor, revenge, love, patience, and never backing down. Sure, it's not literary artwork, but the movie has a lot to offer. Check it out.

- M

Going to the beach to avoid the Sun ...

My life is filled to the brim with curious oddities. I love meat, yet am allergic to bacon. I enjoy the outdoors, yet can't stand the heat. I love music, yet have sensitive hearing. Well, I've added another to the list: I go to the beach so I can avoid the Sun. Yup. You heard me right. Not the Sun in particular, but the massive heat wave we've been experiencing in the United States. I have lost the ability to sweat, so the only way to cool off (aside from shoving ice down my throat), is to let running water carry the heat away. The ocean works impressively well at that task, therefore the beach was calling me over ... the family came along too, I'm not a tyrant.

So, there I was, swimming in the Gulf of Mexico, with a t-shirt covering my chest and a cowboy hat giving shade to my head. About the only skin actually exposed were my legs and arms. I'm happy to say I didn't get a sunburn at all. I did get a little red, from reflected light, but overall I'm unscathed. I found it interesting how many people did all sorts of things to avoid the Sun on the beach, like using tents and umbrellas and sheets. It's funny to think we travelled all that way just to cover up and ignore the blessings of nature all around us. But, that's what vacations are for! To ignore life and goof around with stuff that shouldn't matter, yet is so very much fun. We saw dolphins!

I try very hard to notice the tiny trinkets of wonder in daily life, but when you go somewhere new and experience things from a fresh viewpoint it really isn't hard at all. I'll be the first to admit that I get stressed far too easily, and frustration rises and I have a tough time maintaining composure (my wife is helping in that area, God bless her). Life is good, nature is good, family is good. We simply need to open our eyes and take it in. Maybe we'll go to the beach next year? I have no idea, but I am positive that I'll be covering up again and avoiding the Sun as much as possible.

- M

Be careful of the heat, or suffer the consequences.

Perhaps you've heard the term "Sun stroke" or "Heat stroke" in relation to getting too hot out in the sun. Sure, you sweat and are uncomfortable, but how bad is it really? We joke about "sweating like a pig" and just go merrily about our business. In this summer of heavy heat, I feel the need to make sure everyone understands how serious this really is. You see, I used to laugh at the heat and did my best to work despite it and the sweat. Then ... I suffered a real sun stroke (to the point where I stopped sweating, got nauseous, felt chilled, all of it) and then a while later it happened again. As a result, my body became extremely sensitive to heat and I've since had heat exhaustion and heat stroke multiple times. I lost the ability to sweat at all (you might think this is great, but I cannot cool down without a cold shower, and I hope you see how limiting that is to my life), which means air conditioning is quite literally keeping me alive.

I think we forget just how frail our bodies can be, and so we tough it out and think we can will ourselves to be okay. Sure, you can build a tolerance to heat, but not all at once. You need to work up to it, and for those who haven't gotten used to hot climates it is essential that you monitor your body. Drink plenty of water, keep out of the direct sunlight if you can, and pay attention. People who are suffering from the heat aren't fully aware what's happening to them. Watching for heat exhaustion is a buddy affair, and you need to keep each other healthy.

The reason I'm bringing this up now, is I've seen lots of people saying "Just suck it up, there's plenty of people who've been hotter and they're fine." I'm sure that's true. It's also true that people survive being shot in the chest, but I'd still go to the hospital if it happened to me. Don't simplify other people's health concerns. Would you do the same for anyone you care about? I hope not. Remember, we are in this together. Don't let yourself, or others, suffer because of some misplaced sense of toughness.

- M

Real champions don't hear the crowd.

People watching champions assume that one of the motivations to win is the applause of the crowd. No, it's not. True champions don't notice adulation, and are so focused on their goals that they probably won't become aware of anything but their own efforts anyway. All focus is on their goal. Their prize. Years are spent getting to the point where they can try. If they fail, the weight is crushing, but they shrug it off and train harder. It's difficult to imagine the single-minded focus these champions maintain for such long periods. That's heroic by itself.

Why do we frequently idolize champions? It's easy to see why. Champions accomplish what we dream of doing, battle incredible odds, endure unbelievable pains, and wade through it all with grim determination. Watching these people perform is inspirational, as it should be. I think deep down we all want to be champions, even if it's only in the realm of paper folding. It feels good to succeed, but especially good when it's not easy. In fact, make things too easy and the reward is worthless. It's only through struggle that we bloom and grow.

True champions aren't in it for the glory, they are competing because they have a deep need to prove to themselves that they are capable and worthy. None expect to lose. All anticipate their own victory. Sure, there can only be a single victor in a contest, but that doesn't stop champions from thinking that they alone will stand at the place of honor. I think this is what we really admire in champions: their ability to enter competition with the faith that they have prepared wisely, trained vigorously, and will see their efforts lead them to win.

Champions don't hear the crowd, because their own dreams are shouting too loudly.

- M