We feel the poem shared below, by Robert H. Cathcart, is reflective of the tenants similar to those held by Samurai warriors. We hope our readers find the same appreciation for its relevance.

I am what I am

I am what I am forever

Unless there is reason to change

In dreams to dedicate living

To expand my human range.

I seek the personal courage

To strive and work for the good,

Do best for all of my neighbors

For me, and all brotherhood.

I want my life to be fulfilled

Work to achieve my goals

Open my mind to the truth.

Act out my self chosen role.

I prize ancestral family,

For decency, virtue, and hope.

Wish to reflect integrity

Create my Kaleidoscope.

I know me flawed and imperfect

But am willing to give it my best.

My pledge is to make the effort

To rise above the unbridled rest.

By Robert H. Cathcart (Guest Blogger)

When you go out your door, it is like seeing an enemy. Since you are a professional warrior and wear swords at your side, you should never forget the spirit of combat at any time. ¹

"Katana" Artwork by Anne Kelley

Not Forgetting Combat was mandatory for Samurai in feudal Japan for death was always on their minds; people today can benefit from the basic message of this code which is to always be prepared for threats and conflict. Samurai warriors were expected to anticipate an attack whether at home, while bathing and most importantly when answering the door. It was customary for warriors of all ranks to always wear a sword by their side; even in warrior houses. In reality, our modern day world is for the most part civil; however, people are still motivated by egos and driven by greed.

Violence is still prevalent today and those who are better prepared may increase their chances of survival. Combat is defined as a fight, struggle, or controversy, as between two persons, teams, or ideas. Though the Bushido translation applies to physical combat, people today encounter many types of conflict. Regular physical training, a heightened awareness, and educational resources help to increase a person’s self-confidence. Preparedness in all aspects of life can have a positive impact on the quality of life.

Not Forgetting Combat is a mindset that helps us to be the best we can physically and emotionally. It is a discipline that is an “ideal” and can be used as a guide to cope with conflicts in our life. We are all individuals who can benefit from self-development; however, we need to be aware of our personal limitations and consult with a physician before making any kind of drastic change. In fact, growth is not drastic and is a slow process that occurs over time. It is highly individualized!

Conflict in Today’s Society

Movies can lead to misconceptions about self-defense in an attempt to create drama. Characters are often times seen defending themselves against groups of thugs with weapons, or defending themselves against an attacker in an alley. While these situations do happen, there are many other forms of assault that can happen in places were we spend most of our time (like work and home). Assault can be in the form of a physical attack or in the form of verbal abuse or harassment.

Aggravated Assault is the most common violent crime today according to the US National Crime Prevention Council, and the threat of death or serious injury is substantially higher than other forms of assault. The media bombards us with the details of many violent crimes and just a quick search on the internet reveals that these crimes happen everywhere.

A person is guilty of aggravated assault if he or she attempts to cause serious bodily injury to another or causes such injury purposely, knowingly, or recklessly under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life; or attempts to cause or purposely or knowingly causes bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon.

Though aggravated assault is one of the most severe forms of assault, other types of conflict may be prevented or stopped by being better prepared. When someone attacks us verbally, we are often times caught by surprise and fear gets in the way of rational thought. By knowing more about human rights and seeking out adequate resources, people can prepare themselves to deal with these kinds of threats.

Violence and Harassment in the Workplace

Some employees endure physical and verbal assault in the workplace by other employees, customers, and patients (health care workers). The Federal Bureau of Investigation takes workplace violence seriously. Verbal assault may be unreported due to fears of job loss. Verbal abuse or assault can leave people feeling helpless and hopeless without the proper resources. Employers have a legal and ethical obligation to promote a work environment free from threats and violence…and employees have the right to expect a work environment that promotes safety from violence, threats and harassment.

Domestic Violence

Intimate partner violence (domestic violence) is a serious form of abuse that often times goes unreported because a controlling partner instills fear in another through manipulation. There are many resources for victims of domestic violence and a call for help is the first step—this takes courage.

An increase in self-confidence helps individuals to take back control of their lives. Low self-esteem, internal control, or assertiveness can cause people to fear conflict situations and become easy targets for more aggressive or manipulative people.  Even people with relatively good self-esteem can be manipulated when they run into someone extremely skilled at manipulation.  Developing your self-esteem, internal control, and assertiveness skills can make you much stronger in conflict situations or any situations involving differences of opinion.

Physical Training and Preparedness

“The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war.”

^{An old Asian Proverb}

As an optimist, I like to think that our attitude has a huge impact on our life. I have learned that positive thoughts and actions seem to attract positive energy. On the other hand, as a martial artist I understand that when “your life is on the line, you want all your weapons to be of use”². Those who have experienced a threat first-hand, realize that safety awareness and knowledge of self-defense are forms of weaponry.

Some martial artist study with competition in mind and others train for self-defense. A student that is self-confident and mindful of “Not Forgetting Combat,” is prepared but reacts only when the situation demands a call for action. The main goal for training and preparedness is to increase confidence and stamina.

Other forms of fitness may also help to develop speed, agility and strength and should not be overlooked. Serious athletes prepare for games and events which can be a form of combat in sport.

Although adequate training and preparation can help a martial artist defend themselves in physical combat, a true martial artist understands it’s better to try and steer clear of dangerous situations. They avoid a fight, don’t enter into a potentially dangerous situation, and maintain a high sense of awareness of their surroundings.

Safety Tips:

We recommend seeking the advice of a physician first before changing or starting a new fitness program!

Visit selfdefenseforher.com, a website offering basic self-defense techniques. Though the blog addresses women’s self defense, the tips can apply to men as well. A few of the general safety tips are listed below. Thanks to my former Tae Kwon Do instructor Mr. Carlos Mercado for sending me the following information! You can visit his website @ www.MartialArtsKia.com

General Safety Tips

For more safety tips and resources visit www.selfdefenseforher.com

• If you see or sense problems on your way, just change your route and prepare to run or defend yourself.
• Do not wear conspicuous jewelry when you are walking on the streets alone.
• Do not hitchhike, use buses or taxis instead.
• Do not act or look like an easy target – look confident!
• Most “fights” are won before they start. Aggressors will back down if you maintain eye contact and are not intimidated by them.

1. Kim, Tae Yun. Seven Steps to Inner Power. San Rafael, CA: New World Library, 1991. Print. Pg 30.
2. Scott Wilson, William. Miyamoto Musashi: The Book of Five Rings. td. Japan: Kodansha International Ltd., 2002. Print. Pg. 50

There is a legend claiming that the Samurai warriors practiced calligraphy daily in order to develop their skills in swordsmanship. This art form requires discipline, strength, focus and awareness—skills necessary for a warrior. Calligraphy was taught and practiced by Asian youths in their early years. Calligraphy can be compared with our alphabet. However, the characters represent pictures, whereas our letters form words that are combined into sentences. The Asian fine art of Sumi-e developed over the years from calligraphy and is seen hear in my paintings.

Calligraphy is a disciplined practice and many rules need to be observed to create the exact stroke. To begin, one needs to have the

proper supplies, called the Four Treasures; the brush, the stick and stone (to make ink) and rice paper. A skill is developed in obtaining the proper moisture of ink and water on rice paper to paint a character. When applying the ink to the paper the whole arm is used in making a stroke. There are many styles of calligraphy that have come through the ages. Both calligraphy and Sumi-e are disciplines that involve much practice to create the exact replica of a style or subject being painted. In addition the artist needs to get in touch with their chi energy (universal energy) to produce the feeling in a finished artwork.

No longer depended on to protect the clan after the dissolution of the fifes in Japan, Samurai warriors learned to transfer their skills from fighting into creating beautiful works of art. Using their calligraphy strokes they made paintings from their natural surroundings. Flowers, animals and beautiful landscapes were some of their favored subjects.

My personal interest in ink painting evolved from living and teaching a holistic life style—I believe to be a warrior’s way. My belief and experience is that practicing an art form like Sumi-e contributes to a healthy body, mind and spirit. As a mental health practitioner, I have learned and teach others that we are co-creators with the universe. Focusing on creativity keeps our mental attitudes and emotions healthy, and nature’s beauty is a wonderful way to express this co-creation.

Vangi’s Sumi-e Art

Vangi Cathcart is an artist and holistic health practitioner. Her work has been selected and displayed at various art shows throughout the country and some of her paintings are for sale. For more information about her work or if you would like to purchase her art, please submit your request for information in the Contact Us page.

In early civilization, horses became a technological resource for people to get from one place to another faster than on foot. Horses carried much more than a man could carry on his back and a warrior on a well-trained horse had a strong advantage in battle over adversaries fighting from the ground. A skilled swordsman could strike downward in both directions when fighting attackers from below and an archer had the advantage of moving swiftly on horseback while shooting from a distance. Native American’s selected a War Pony based on their speed, agility, sure-footedness, endurance and dependability. “Native riders realized that their success and their survival depended on the relationship they built with their horses.”² The presence of a rider atop a fast powerfully built horse was an intimidating force; adding to the confusion and ciaos on a battlefield.

This level of skill could not be acquired without first understanding that the horse and rider must become one—just as the Yin and Yang Chinese symbol represents opposites forces interconnected and in balance.

“A warrior’s ability to communicate with his horse is one of the most valuable skills he could develop.”³ As heard animals, a horse needs a leader. The rider must establish this hierarchical relationship by learning to master the equines body language and subtle cues required for it to develop trust as a follower. “Although body language is the primary means for equine communication, horses also use a range of sounds to talk to each other. The most prominent among these are the neigh, nicker, snort, and squeal.”⁴ Our historical relationship with the horse was a vehicle for riders to master a skill, improve communication and improve other types of conduct becoming of a warrior.

The Horsemanship Code in Today’s Society

The well-known fighting systems of the martial arts like Karate, Tae Kwon Do and Aikido have transformed from a military necessity to an art form with “new purposes: physical fitness, spiritual composure, character development, and sport.” http://yalepress.yale.edu/yupbooks/book.asp?isbn=9780300116748

A warrior interested in living the code of the traditional Samurai should also view Horsemanship as a martial art to be mastered. Just as a student of the fighting arts is encouraged to spar against different types of opponents in a self-defense class, a warrior must learn to ride horses of a different size, speed, agility and temperament. “You should have the look of being able to move with that horse in perfect balance with him; you should flow with his movements, and not resist him.”⁵ This level of horsemanship takes courage, discipline and years of practice.

All Warriors are Livelong Students

Everything eventually comes full circle in our lives especially our need to fulfill the passions and dreams we held in our youth. It was intriguing for me to learn that horsemanship was one of the warrior codes for Samurai.  I have always had a lifelong passion for horses. One of my personal goals this past year was to start learning more about Horsemanship.

My grandfather first introduced me to horses when I was a young child and I always admired his connection with these mysterious animals. Though I was around horses most of my life, I never took a formal lesson. Just last year, I had a vivid dream that my grandfather, who died several years back, was sitting at the kitchen table in my childhood home. In this dream, I was an adult. He looked younger than when he died–vibrant and strong. From my heart, I thanked him for introducing me to horses and explained that I have always had a passion to ride. He looked at me lovingly but with seriousness in his tone and said, “Just ride!”

I took the leap this past fall and did what my grandfather in my dream suggested. I contacted a horse farm in Raleigh that offered Western style riding instruction–my personal preference. As I reflect on my first few lessons, I realize that my instructor started with the basics while introducing me to three different horses during each lesson—each one a different size, speed, agility and with a different temperament. He was reinforcing the code. He also wanted me to remember that horses are horses and are therefore unpredictable, so effective communication is essential in becoming a skilled rider.

Historically a true warrior did not use horses for monetary gain but rather as an aid to survival. They were trading and breed in colonial times and the population of different breeds grew in the Americas based on demand; however, the true warrior’s interest in the horse was “in their necessity for maneuvering while heavily armed. For them, horses were substitutes for their own two feet.”⁶

There are certain rules and expectations found in the warrior code that became a consistent part of Samaria practice and teachings. The lessons found in the Code have been passed down five-hundred years, and are consistent with the teachings found in many modern day martial art forms. The handbook “was composed to provide practical and modern instruction for warriors, correcting way-ward tendencies and outlining the personal, social, and professional standards of conduct characteristics of Bushido, or the Way of the Warrior.”⁷ By understanding Horsemanship we can learn to appreciate and incorporate this conduct in different aspects of our daily life.

• The code of horsemanship reinforces “emptying ones cup” in order to learn and master a skill
• Understanding relationships and the importance of communication are critical including non-verbal cues and a heightened awareness
• Seeing the horse as an extension of ourselves and our universe rather than using the horse for monetary gain—it’s not fair to breed and sell a horse without paying close attention to overpopulation and mistreatment
• Understanding our relationship with animals and the natural world around us—many people shelter themselves from the outdoors and fear animal behavior
• Not being afraid to develop a new skill, try new things and explore uncharted territory—at any age or time in your life

1. Cleary, Thomas. Code of the Samurai. Boston, MA: Tuttle Publishing, 1999. Print.
2. Pony Boy, Gawani. Horse, Follow Closely. Laguna Hills, CA: Bow Tie Press, 1998. Print.
3. Ibid
4. Audrey Pavia and Janice Posnikoff, DVM, Horses for Dummies, 2^nd ed. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Publishing Co. 2005
5. Richard Shrake, Western Horsemanship. Colorado Springs, CO: Western Horseman Inc., 1987. Print
6. Cleary, Thomas. Code of the Samurai. Boston, MA: Tuttle Publishing, 1999. Print.
7. Ibid

Bibliography

Cleary, Thomas. Code of the Samurai. Boston, MA: Tuttle Publishing, 1999. Print.

Pony Boy, Gawani. Horse, Follow Closely. Laguna Hills, CA: Bow Tie Press, 1998. Print.

Pavia, Audrey, and Janice Posnikoff, DVM. Horses for Dummies. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Publishing Inc., 2005. Print.

Richard Shrake, Western Horsemanship. Colorado Springs, CO: Western Horseman Inc., 1987. Print

The Bushido code of frugality is an important topic in today’s world. Of course, this code related to warriors that were in public service in comparison to the higher ranked knights of the times, however, there is an important lesson to be learned in modern society about frugality.

What’s written about frugality in the translated version of the Bushido code is that “if those of lesser rank imitate those of greater rank, overspending on useless things, since they do not have any surplus yet their cravings are unjustified, no matter how much they economize they can not compensate. Eventually, they will go broke at a complete loss.” ¹

Certainly those that can afford these items do have the luxury of spending; however, there are deeper questions to be contemplated. Does the need to spend create happiness? Is the buyer looking to fulfill something that can not be satisfied by spending on material objects? Does all this excess spending cause added waste and needless spending?

Researchers have found that low self-esteem and materialism are not just a correlation, but also a causal relationship where low self esteem increases materialism, and materialism can also create low self-esteem.

It’s no coincidence that some of the richest people in the world live in modest homes with economy cars. Rather than spending money to look the part these people use frugality to save money and invest in something that will generate a return. Their money is earning money! Being rich means being as financially independent as possible – almost no life events can impact your situation – and being surrounded by the things you care the most about.

Many of us worry needlessly about money because our security lies in the things we collect and buy and the image that we portray to others. We were taught to spend our money, charge what we can’t afford and look the part of success. Those living the Bushido should help and encourage one another to save money, not be concerned with what others think about our level of success and teach children about frugality. After all, money is not happiness—compassion and understanding bring happiness.

Exercise 1:

The next time you’re tempted to buy something new, ask yourself if this is something you need. If not, put the item back on the store display and walk away. As a reward, take the exact amount of money you would have spent on this item and make a deposit of that amount into your savings account, or even a glass jar at home. Watch the money accumulate!

Exercise 2:

Take stock in how much “stuff” you have and whether you really own these things. Notice how much of this stuff is part of a repayment plan—your personal debt. Start to eliminate unnecessary spending and pay off the credit cards to reduce your debt. Save your money, plan your purchases. When you’ve saved enough money, then buy the item. You’ll actually own your stuff rather than being indebted to a corporation. You’ll feel better about yourself and the purchase in the end.

1. Thomas Cleary, Code of the Samurai: A Modern Translation of the Bushido Shosinshu of Taira Shigesuke. Boston, MA: Tuttle Publishing, 1999.

I like to cook on the stove, so we never got around to replacing it.” I thought long and hard about the reasons why we don’t have a microwave, and I realize that it’s not part of how we live our life. The Bushido Way for us is returning to nature and living life in a more natural way. Processed foods and microwave cooking are unhealthy and are not in harmony with living in the moment.

I like things simple. Meaning, I don’t have the newest appliances and only dishes and cookware that I need for preparing frequent meals. I do have a food processor but I use it all the time and it helps me to prepare healthy meals. A microwave is just another unnecessary appliance to me and takes up space in my kitchen.

The taste of food from a microwave oven is flat and the texture rubbery, and the food rarely has a consistency in its texture. Even a baked potato tastes different to me when cooked in a microwave. In nature everything has a balance and our foods provide us with the necessary vitamins and nutrients we need without being altered by man. Cooking in a microwave has been shown to decrease the nutrients in foods, and could be altering the natural energy that we gain from our food.

As Anthony Wayne and Lawrence Newell point out in “The Hidden Hazards Of Microwave Cooking”,       

“Russian researchers also found decreased nutritional value – or significant dimming of their “vital energy field” – in up to 90% in all microwaved foods. In addition, the B complex, C and E vitamins linked with stress-reduction and the prevention of cancer and heart disease – as well as the essential trace minerals needed for optimum brain and body functioning – were rendered useless by microwaves, even at short cooking durations”. 

The speed of life has left us all compromising our health with foods that accommodate our limited time for planning and preparation, but unfortunately much of this food is loaded with chemicals, additives, and decreased levels of nutrients after “speed” cooking.

Not to mention the plastic containers deemed unhealthy because of leaching chemicals as well as the increase in packaging that adds to the waste that needs to be dealt with by town waste management programs. Food packaging accounts for almost two-thirds of total packaging waste by volume, and food packaging is approximately 50 percent (by weight) of total packaging sales.  

There have even been several recent articles about bottled water and how there are concerns about the levels of chemicals in the water we drink. Turns out, when certain plastics are heated at a high temperature, chemicals from the plastics may leach into container’s contents. So there’s been a flurry of speculation recently as to whether the amounts of these chemicals are actually harmful, and whether this is even a concern when it comes to water bottles—which aren’t likely to be placed in boiling water or even a microwave.  

Many people buy and cook frozen, pre-prepared foods and use a microwave to cook these meals because the process saves us time. After-all isn’t this message one that advertisers promote to us busy professionals and working parents.          

Mmmmm appetizing isn’t it! And what about the big bold statement about the “no artificial colors or artificial flavors.” That’s certain to hook us busy “moms!” I strongly encourage you to look at the fine print on the nutritional label that’s listed on the back of the package.

Negative Effects of Eating Processed Foods

Certainly as a working parent, I’m always looking for ways to save time in preparing meals; however, not at the expense of my families health. Frozen and processed foods can still be cooked by using a traditional oven, but I still stay away from these foods because they are not natural and are not in harmony with the way of the warrior.

My family has a busy schedule. My husband and I both work full-time jobs, write blogs, exercise and we are involved in our son’s school and extra curricular activities; however, we still take time to shop for and prepare healthy more natural food. I agree that processed and frozen foods help save time in cooking and preparation, but cooking can also be a form of relaxation.

Zen: The Art of Modern Eastern Cooking by Deng Ming- Dao is one of my favorite cook books. Not to mention, traditional stove-top and conventional oven cooking allows the preparer time to do other chores like emptying the dish-washer and setting the table while the food bakes.

I like natural foods and can’t deal with additives and excessive salt in my diet. In fact, I notice when I do eat these packaged, pre-prepared foods that my feet swell and I fell sluggish due to the increase in salt and other preservatives. Much of the food manufactured for microwave cooking and quick meals is frozen, processed and high in sodium. People who are sodium sensitive retain sodium more easily, leading to excess fluid retention and increased blood pressure.

At one time, salting was one of the only ways to preserve food. Although that’s not the case today, salt remains a common ingredient in many processed foods.

It’s easy to determine how much sodium is in the foods you’re eating. The nutritional label on the back of packaged food is required to list the sodium and other necessary nutrients. I was shopping in my local Trader Joe’s market and chose the Low Sodium Organic Butternut Squash Soup (90mg per serving) over the regular Organic Butternut Squash Soup listed with 500mg of sodium per serving.

Cooking a healthy meal requires a bit more effort, but you’ll find that planning more simple meals and preparing ahead of time helps to speed up the process during the week when schedules are busy. Though my husband Marcus and I have greatly decreased our meat intake, we do cook meat and more often for our active son.

One of our more simple meals is a few chicken breasts (frozen or refrigerated) cooked in a conventional oven, a couple of baked potatoes baked at the same time, and fresh spinach, carrots or broccoli steamed by stovetop or raw. This meal will take longer to cook and prepare than if a microwave were used, or even if you cooked a packaged frozen meal by conventional oven, but is healthier for you and the family.

We often use low-sodium natural spices, natural herbs, or even some pesto that I prepared over the weekend to doctor-up a plain chicken breast, fish or shrimp. My pesto recipe takes about 15 minutes to make and can be stored in the refrigerator all week. It’s great on toasted bread, with low-sodium corn chips or as a spread on fresh cut green, red or yellow peppers.

 Exercise:

1. Take some time to think about the quality of food you’re eating. Make a few small changes to help improve your diet each week by eliminating processed foods. Buy a water filter, reheat your left-over’s in the oven while you’re setting the dinner table, make a salad rather than buying a frozen meal for lunch. This may take some additional planning and time, but can be fun too. It’s worth the inconvenience to feel better about yourself and what you’re putting into your body. It’s all about planning!
2. Make a few simple changes to your grocery list this week and purchase a few natural products like nuts, dried fruit, carrot sticks and celery. Check the nutritional labels on the food you buy for a long list of unrecognizable words that you can’t pronounce and STAY AWAY from these products! A good tip is to shop on the outside isles at your grocery store. This is usually where you’ll find the fresh food. The middle isles are where all the processed junk is stocked.
3. Check the sodium content and make sure the foods you buy don’t contain hydrogenated oils and Trans Fats—these are horrible fats that should not be included in your diet!

Ingredients: 

1-2 containers silken tofu

Organic vegetable broth (2 cups per bowl of soup served)

Other Optional Ingredients (Flavor to Taste!):

Many of these ingredients can be found in a local Asian market, which should be listed in a local directory. If you don’t have one near you, check out the international section of a large grocery store.

Soy sauce

Bok choi

Carrots (shredded)

Onions

Shredded cabbage

Sea weed (cut small)

Chili paste

Bamboo shoots

Sesame oil

Hot soy bean paste

Mustard greens

The sky’s the limit for different ways to flavor this soup. Experiment and have fun. If you discover an interesting and tasty new creation, please share them with us!

Heat the tofu in a covered double boiler until it is warm throughout. Make sure not to stir or move the tofu so that it retains its shape.

In a separate saucepan, heat the vegetable broth until hot (do not boil!)

Using a large serving spoon, place the tofu into a bowl and add the broth until it’s covered. The amount of tofu you add to your soup is entirely up to you. Add your choice of optional ingredients to create your own individual soy pudding soup.

That’s all there is to it! I told you it was easy.

As I had mentioned, this soup is very nutritious. It is high in protein, low in fat, and depending on the optional ingredients can also be low in sodium and no cholesterol.

 Do you find yourself feeling tense and anxious for no apparent reason? I made a commitment to myself several years ago to try and determine what was causing me stress, and I finally realized that I was feeling chaos from my external environment. Imagine-my external world was causing my internal world to be confusing and chaotic. There’s an interesting connection between having a clean, uncluttered living space and having more clarity and focus mentally. There is a profound psychological thread that binds all areas of your existence into one distinctive unit. A messy house trashed with useless clutter is an abstract representation of many lives – also muddled with unnecessary debris that needs to be regrouped, set aside, hidden out of sight or, better yet, disposed of completely. Wasted thoughts, wasted energy and wasted time all add up to wasted money.

Create Harmony in Your Living Space

 Part of the Zen philosophy includes letting go of materialism and not being attached to things, and to focus on self-reliance. The Book of the Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi talks about “The Way of Walking Alone”, and lists several steps to maintain this perspective including “not carrying antiques handed down from generation to generation”. Though I love history and do enjoy hanging on to memorabilia, additional clutter was taking up to much of my space and time.

When it comes to getting organized, we’re our own worst enemies. We keep things because we persuade ourselves we’ll need them—even if we haven’t used them in five years and don’t quite know where we’ve put them. There seems to be a security factor in just knowing they’re around… somewhere.

What a great metaphor this is for mental hoarding. We hang on to habits we learn from our parents and grandparents, and much of our negative self-talk is learned from internalizing the comments of other people in our life. Certainly, it’s important to honor your parents and feel a sense of pride in your roots but self-reliance means we must become independent and confident with ourselves and what we represent. Security is not found in a dusty wooden chest tucked away in the corner of the attic, harmony is found when the chest is emptied of it’s contents and the air can flow freely through the inside of the box. By cleaning our external world of junk, we are able to cleanse our internal world (meaning our cluttered minds) and let go of the mental junk.  In any event, the day I decided to get rid of my “stuff” was an experience that I’ll never forget.

Japanese Clean

I’ve always been drawn toward Japanese culture because if it’s simplicity. The Japanese home is spacious and simple with objects and furniture that have a purpose rather than cluttering space. There’s a focus on balancing Yin and Yang, which is something we should pay careful attention to in all aspects of our lives. To learn more about Japanese living and interior design, check out Wade Robbins Ezine article. Japanese style home décor seems to incorporate a few artistic accents and is much more spacious than American style homes. Americans seem to havean attachment to memorabilia and collectibles to a point that we save way too much. It’s important to understand systems for maintaining cleanliness like the 5S system. The 5s philosophy focuses on effective workplace organization and standardized work procedures. It is based on five Japanese words that begin with S.There’s no reason why this workspace system can’t be applied to our living space at home. The Japanese words and there English versions include, Seiri (Sort), Seiton (Set in Order), Seiso (Shine), Seiketsu (Standardize), and Shitsuki (Sustain).

The 5S system helped me to maintain an organized clutter free home and consequently develop a freer more focused mind.

 

A spacious and clean home is not only visually aesthetic but also translates to a harmonious mind and spirit.

Begin to Simplify Your Life

Exercise: Clean your Home to a Level of  Japanese Clean

Start with one room and in one section at a time, so you don’t become overwhelmed. For instance, the top of a bureau or a closet are a great starting point. Take a large trash bag and fill the bag with anything that you have not used in more than six months. Survey the surface areas for memorabilia that’s taking up too much space. Is the closet filled with boxes that you haven’t opened for over a year? Do you know what’s in the boxes? Have you missed anything or did you forget you owned these items? Do you have a pile of old shoes you’ll never were again sitting in the dark corner of the closet?

Pick-up one item or piece of clothing from your closet and ask yourself if you really need this object to make you feel good. Does it have a purpose? I made a conscious effort to try and keep things that only have a purpose.  When our space is open and free of material objects that have no purpose or true meaning, we have fewer distractions and find a renewed energy.

Eveyone Pays the Toll on The Road of Life

Life is a toll road and everyone pays the toll in one way or another.  What this means is, in life, everything you do has its price.  Every action or choice you make throughout your existence has consequences or results that have a direct impact on who you are and the outcome of your life. The choices you make determine how you pay the toll on the road of life.

 Let me give you a few examples.

 Two Types of Lifestyle Choices and How Each Pays the Toll

 The “Couch Potato”

 Take the stereotypical “couch potato.” This person has a sedentary job, comes home with fast food, and watches the television until it’s time to go to bed. They’re overweight, get no exercise and they have no motivation, drive or ambition.

 This type of person pays their toll in several ways:

1. They squander their time. The time we’re allotted to spend on this earth is finite. We cannot buy, barter or steal any more time. Once it is used, we can’t get it back. The best we can do is to make the most of every moment. The couch potato wastes all of their time, never realizing its true value.
2. In addition, the person that lives this type of lifestyle pays the toll through poor heath. As I mentioned in my previous post, The Warrior’s Way of Life, one in three Americans are obese. Another study by the National Institute of Health shows that 65% of adults in this country are obese. The list of associated health risks with obesity is long and many of them are life threatening. According to the CDC, an estimated 300,000 premature deaths a year can be attributed to obesity. Some of the risks of obesity are listed below. Click on this link to Anne Collins’ website for more details on these health risks:
   •     Heart Disease
   •     Stroke
   •     Type 2 Diabetes
   •     Cancer
   •     Fatty Liver Disease
   •     Chronic Venous Insufficiency
   •     Deep Vein Thrombosis
   •     Arthritis
   •     Increased Health Risks for Expectant Mother and Baby
   •     Gallbladder Diseas
   •     Premature Death
3. Low self esteem and depression are another way that this type of person can pay the toll. American society places a high emphasis on physical appearance. Many obese people feel isolated and have a more difficult time advancing in their careers. Scientists have also found that excessive weight causes a chemical and hormonal imbalance that can lead to depression.

 The “Go-Getter”

 Now let’s look at the individual at the other end of the spectrum. The Stereotypical “go-getter”. This person typically is physically fit, has a high paying job or owns a successful business, drives a nice car and owns a big house. Most people believe that this type of person is “living the life” and typically has everything handed to them on a silver platter. They don’t believe that this person has ever paid a toll in their life.

 Let me show you how they do:

1. Just like the couch potato, the go-getter also pays the toll with their time. However, they use their time very differently than the couch potato. The go-getter invests their time into education and personal development. This person is generally the “A” student in school, they went to an Ivy League or tier one college, and continue to read, improve and educate themselves after college. Many work 12-15 hours per day! They are usually out of bed by 5:00 a.m. to workout because it’s the only time that fits their busy schedule.
2. Another way the go-getter pays the toll is through hard work and self discipline. They are continually setting goals and taking action to achieve them. They generally have the endurance to persevere where most would give up and quit. As their name suggests, the go-getter realizes that success is never given away, it is earned. Instead of waiting for good things in life to come to them, they go out and get them.

 You Can Choose How to Pay the Toll

 Both of the individuals in these examples have paid the toll in very different ways. The couch potato may have benefited from relaxation early on but was forced to pay the toll after with the price of poor health, low self esteem and an uneventful life. The second paid the toll up front through hard work and discipline and enjoyed success, health and prosperity later. Nevertheless, both paid the toll.

 “Life is a toll road and everyone pays the toll. However, you can choose how to you would like to pay!”

 Personal Action Exercises

• Take a look everyday at the choices you make in life. Decide if this is how you want to pays your toll. If it isn’t, resolve to make the necessary changes to pay the toll on your terms.
• From this day forward, decide exactly what it is you want from your life. Write down your goals and dreams and then decide how much they’re worth to you to achieve them. Then decide how you’ll pay the toll to get them.

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What separates us from the Japanese Samurai Warriors of the past? The Samurai approached each day as if it were their last. They thought about death often and consequently lived each day with a heightened sense of awareness. They treated people with the utmost respect. If you knew that today was your last, would you initiate arguments with your brother or wife? If you only had 24 hours to live, would you spend your time watching television for hours? Would you complete a task by doing the minimal about of work or would you focus on maximum output to accomplish your goal—to be remembered for contributing something significant? Would you complete a poem, finish a painting, hug your child tightly, say you love them, feel true compassion and maybe help a friend in need.

For me, this philosophy of living as if you were dying doesn’t instill fear but rather an appreciation for each moment as if that moment is your last. In the introduction to The Book of the Five Rings the author discusses how the book is a chronicle of the thoughts and concerns of warriors, and how warriors were able to overcome the “ego” through Zen meditation and a high level of discipline and perseverance. Through Zen meditation, the warriors were only concerned with the elimination of fear, and how to engage in life in a straightforward and unwavering manner.

Facing Fears

It is not until we are able to face our fears with courage and honesty that we will learn to understand what it really means to live right now. It is at this moment that we feel a deep satisfaction and appreciation for the people in our lives and what we see, hear, smell, feel and taste in the moment. We feel a deeper level of compassion for the world and are thankful for life—and we learn to live life by developing a level of faith that helps us to stay focused on the moment and to gradually let go of our “what-if” worry patterns. If the future hasn’t arrived yet and we can’t predict the outcome, then why are we preoccupied with imagining the worst case scenario? We should enjoy the quality of life by focusing on what we have in the present.

Mediation Techniques for Beginners

The practice of Zen includes calming the mind, so thoughts of the past and future do not deprive us of the true-life experience in the here and now. “Some people criticize Zen practice because it is very strict. They say it is too much to pay careful attention to each form.”

Zen is a practice that focuses on living in the present. There are many books written about the art of Zen. All of them have one common theme, which is to completely engross yourself in the activity that you are doing in that moment with focus and a heightened awareness. When we let our minds remain in the moment, we realize there are treasures to be found and an inner peace that feels very natural. We pay attention to details and are better at recalling information, names, dates, and anything that triggers our senses.

One of the best exercises for helping our minds to relax and stay focused on the moment is by learning to meditate. By taking some quiet time every day to relax and practice rhythmic breathing, we learn to trust our natural pulse in harmony with the universe. “In the same way that a river keeps itself clean by staying in motion, let negative thoughts and emotions flow away as quickly as they come.”

Beginners Meditation Tip1: Allow yourself to take 3-5 minutes in the morning before starting your day. Find a quiet comfortable place and sit in a relaxed posture, preferably on a pad or pillow with legs crossed, back straight and hands on top of your knees facing upward. Inhale slowly, allow your breath to fill the lungs and allow your abdomen to expand—like a baby breaths. Hold the breath for a count of three, and then exhale slowly for a count of 10-12 seconds. Repeat this breath three times, while paying attention to the energy flowing through your body. Try to focus on just only your breath. If thoughts come to mind, release them and remain focused on the breath. If you feel anger, negativity or anxiety, then take in a breath and exhale the negativity. I like to think of bright spiritual light when I inhale and imagine when I exhale that I’m letting go negative black energy—like burnt coal or soot.

This is a great way to learn how to meditate consistently, which helps lead to a deeper meditation experience over time.