Newsletter
"The Source"
Personal
reflections
by Shihan Richard J. Van Donk
Who is the person who looks back at you in the mirror?
Is this person your friend and ally? Has this person done
all they could have to become the person they can become
in all the aspects of their life mentally, physically,
emotionally, financially, socially? What stops this person?
It's
a good idea every so often to spend a half hour or so
looking into the mirror (of life) asking yourself point
blank questions about the quality of your life. You can
lie to others and sometimes con yourself but it is very
difficult to lie to yourself while looking face to face
in the mirror. The truth meter will sound off loud and
clear. Complete clarity is what the mirror provides. The
mirror does not care what it reflects. It's job is to
reflect. Ugly faces or Happy ones, it doesn't matter.
You decide what you want life to reflect also. How much
do you compromise by not perfecting your life?
Nature
did not compromise in providing the materials to create
you or the other things in this world. Nature offers all
the ingredients (tools) for a great life. Are you taking
advantage to the fullest? In case you don't know it you
own the whole planet (as much as the next person). You are
a co-creator on this Earth and share in the responsibilities
as well as the rewards. Are you doing your share? Have you
gotten to a point in your life where it matters to you?
Take charge and fire up that inner courage. Courage and
Inspiration will take you to new, otherwise unreachable
heights. So strive for that personal perfection. I here
to tell you that practice does not make perfect. Only perfect
practice makes perfect. You must train for every kind of
situation to be the best you can be. It's no good to be
a Blackbelt in the dojo and a white belt in life. Quest
for a life filled with joy and happiness in everything you
do. My teacher (Hatsumi) once told me a story about how
a young Ninja was trained to jump several feet high from
a standing position. When the wheat 1st began to grow he
would jump over it everyday several times as it grew. This
way he only had to jump 1" higher every day so that
in 6 months he was conditioned to jump over a couple of
feet high. If you learn just 1 new technique well every
day, in a year you will know over 365 new techniques; in
5 years you will know almost 2,000 techniques. True learning
is about adding knowledge to what you already know until
it becomes an automatic part of you. After looking in the
mirror make a new personal perfection commitment. Remember
that the goals you set for yourself must be reachable and
yet be a stretch at the same time. Set a time commitment
with each goal. By breaking down the long range goal in
to smaller, short range steps (goals) and then do them in
a sequential order. Keep looking at your reflections while
striving for that profection.
"Always have the courage to live what you love and
to love what you live." Keep these things in Mind and
Heart. Richard Van Donk, Shihan 3/97
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