As years go by, our bodies change and how we handle food
Changes due to indigestion and we must exclude
Those things we could consume with no effort in younger days
Those same things now cause heartburn and set intestines ablaze
For Warriors, there are some foods which no longer digest
Within the fiery pit that burns intensely in our chest
Things like whining cause a gag reflex within our maw
Laying blame elicits vomit shooting from our jaw
Having no accountability gives us the runs
Laziness to do the work sprays liquid from our buns
“1st World Problem” stress does not sit right within our gut
Lack of gratitude for blessings makes us puke somewhat
Pursuit of shallow status such as money, job and cars
Does not agree with stomachs decorated with old scars
The selfie/ego/snowflake generation gives us gas
Because our diet is made up of iron, steel and brass
Fire goes down easy, problems quench our intense thirst
Pain’s a yummy snack that we could gorge on ‘till we burst
Lighting is dessert and storms are delectable meals
We’re nourished by what makes most sick: challenges and ideals
Sacrifice and work, accountability and grace
With empathy and bravery is how we stuff our face
We’ll pass on all the fear and weakness buffets that most feast
They may slake appetites of sheep, but don’t nourish a beast
There once was a man from Kentucky
This Louisville Lip was quite plucky
Like a bee he would sting
Inside the squared ring
And not one person claimed he was lucky
With skill and with heart he would win
Throwing jabs and big hooks to the chin
He won millions of hearts
With his brawn and his smarts
Not to mention his infectious grin
But the public opinion did sway
When the government one day did say:
“You must go overseas
And must kill our foes, please”
But that didn’t sit right with young Clay
They accused him of being just yellow
“Draft dodger!” they all called this fellow
But young Clay, now Ali
Did not dodge, duck or flee
He showed up to the draft and did bellow
“No thank you,” he told them and stood
By his ideals of mercy and good
They warned of the price
Which he said would suffice
In order to do what he should
They took away his boxing belt
And his wallet a big blow was dealt
They had cut his prime short
But they could never thwart
This great man’s choice which was so heartfelt
Years would go by and the hate
Would soften and folks did see straight
In hindsight they saw
No fear, fright or flaw
Years later they called Ali, “Great”
For greatness is making a choice
And then never betraying that voice
That says, “Stand for what’s right”
Though consequences might
Cause some to no longer rejoice
Today we remember with love
The greatest to lace up a glove
But we must also recall
That the cost wasn’t small
Sacrifice is what greatness is made of
The world’s become a smaller place, or rather it would seem
Thanks to wi-fi internet and video live stream
Instant tweets and Instagram and Facebook posts from those
Who suffer pain and use their phone to share all of their woes
We are indeed connected, each and every person here
But viewing hi-res images of events that aren’t near
Are causing a perspective loss, there’s folks who carry grief
For things half-way around the world with misguided belief
That there is something they can do by ranting or despairing
By hash-tagging and vlogging and by liking and by sharing
Focused half-way ‘round the world and not on what is near
Not present and not aware of their place on this sphere
Perhaps it’s time for stepping back from these world-wide events
These overwhelming weekly travesties that make no sense
Maybe it’s simply too much to know what’s happening
In every dark corner of Earth, each terrible, grim thing
Perhaps the wide-spread stress, anxiety and angst we feel
Is caused by what’s trending and in our newsfeed and newsreel
Perhaps it’s time to step back and be present where we are
Focus on the loved ones near, not strangers who are far
Perhaps it’s time to be aware of local matters more
That we can influence instead of some overseas war
Perhaps it’s time to turn the news off, edit feed, log out
Turn phone off and have local faith instead of global doubt
A misguided approach to dealing with things which pose threat
Or harm, discomfort, hardship, displeasure, distress or fret
Is to deny, ignore, avoid, to bury head in sand
To run away from all the things you think you cannot stand
It’s my pleasure to tell you, dears, that you are very wrong
Those things you think you can’t handle are really not that strong
If you would just confront, engage, clear mind and make contact
Denying just empowers all your fears, that is a fact
Now there will be the fools who misinterpret and will think
That means you should indulge in self-destruction such as drink
And drugs but no, it’s not about a substance, it’s a feeling
That angst, anxiety or stress that comes at thought of dealing
With someone or something which causes you to run and hide
I challenge you for the next time to move forward, collide
Meet it and experience with something more than dread
With empathy instead of ego’s whispers in your head
In my experience when I have chosen to engage
Instead of run away the result wasn’t pain or rage
I learned just how weak that thing was that I thought had such power
Because I no longer denied, it was them who did cower
And places which would cause me dread became my forge of flame
Strengthening and honing the Warrior that I became
I no longer avoid a single person, thing or place
Because experience has taught me that when I embrace
The truth’s revealed and all those things which I thought would subtract
My joy and peace were only strong because I’d always backed
“Oh no” is why each demon lives to haunt your waking days
“Ok” is how to sap its power and make your own raise
A quirky twist of fate to be imbued with the belief
That we will live forever, yet our time on Earth is brief
We make bold declarations that “Tomorrow, things will change!
Tomorrow the battle begins! I’ll plan and rearrange!”
Procrastinating since we think because we’ve lived this long
Precedent would prove that we’ll for many years prolong
While all the truths which do dispel this naive ignorance
Are scoffed at, scorned, evaded or met with indifference
“Healthy” people dying of a heart attack at fifty
Time cut short despite their abstinence from drugs and whisky
Young lives cut too short because a mishap with car
Fate ignores how talented they were with a guitar
Children filled with love and life and innocence close eyes
And breathe their final breath despite their mothers’ prayers and cries
In one quick blink the life that was is now longer there
And though we witness death each year, so few seem to beware
“Tomorrow this, tomorrow that” despite constant reminders
“Tomorrow” is not guaranteed regardless of your blinders
So live for something that in fact you do possess right now:
This moment, wake up, look around, breathe deep, my dears, somehow
Be present and get up and do the things you have delayed
Revel in the chance, the gift and do not be afraid
The time that’s left is not something to look upon in fear
The seconds that remain are something to love and revere
Time is almost up, my dears, get up and make the most
May I remind that very soon your spirit leaves its host?
And what will the survivors say? That you just sat and thought?
Or that you were a Warrior and PUSHED and STRIVED and FOUGHT?
This video depicts people not too far away from where I live, just 45 minutes up the road in fact, fighting over a parking spot. But people who look closer/try harder know that things aren’t always so simple, so black and white.
This altercation isn’t about a parking spot at all. It’s about people who have become too used to getting what they want, and not developing the skills to cope when their desires aren’t satisfied. The people in this video have become so accustomed to having their desires fulfilled, and throwing temper tantrums when they don’t get what they want, that they’ve *devolved* to the point where a simple parking spot can now send them into a violent frenzy. Men pounding on each other repeatedly. Men pushing and striking women. Women with not enough sense to not charge and push violent men. Grown adults hitting each other and screaming profane, violent threats at each other in the presence of children.
Don’t look away, my dears. It’s the ugly things that will also teach you about the world you live in, not just the pictures of flowers and rainbows. Watch this video carefully and study the psychopath in action. See the complete lack of self control. The lack of empathy for others, and how oblivious they are to the effect their actions have on those around them. They want what they want, and they’ll hurt or disrupt anyone in order to satisfy their ego’s desires.
This is a shining example of why the world needs the types of people I refer to as “Warriors.” If that word still feels too violent and aggressive for your tastes, then replace it with “masters” or “self actualized people” or “aware people” or whatever other word represents a person who can step outside of themselves and easily overcome their ego’s ridiculous behavior by chuckling at themselves and saying, “How silly.”
And we need those people not only to prevent us from going on such destructive rampages for silly desires of convenience and comfort, but to also control the animals like these people who can’t control themselves. It’s disappointing that there was no one there to step in to diffuse this situation. Yes, there were people trying to separate them, but what I saw was a half-hearted effort by people who weren’t prepared to deal with this type of altercation. They called the cops instead (the same cops they most likely curse and call good for nothing).
No, I won’t give you a “If I was there” scenario. I don’t have to imagine a hypothetical situation because I’ve actually been in this situation, with raging psychopaths threatening to tear each other apart. From experience, I can tell you what a Warrior can accomplish in exactly this type of situation: peace. When I witnessed this same situation, I directed my full attention to the most violent and angry member of the party and spoke to him the way I’d speak to the raging, green Hulk, because that’s what a human being is reduced to when a massive ego doesn’t get what it wants. It turns you into an idiot. I made it very simple for him to focus. I kept reminding him to keep eye contact with me and to count to ten. I told him he had lost control and he had to gain it back, and the numbers would help him. It was like speaking to an animal, or an infant child, but it worked. He turned from raging monster to some semblance of a human, aware of himself, his anger, and his need to control himself around other people…and children. The other member of the altercation was truly a full blown psychopath. Completely devoid of empathy. Something very dark and sinister in his eyes. The type of person who could cut your throat for a…well…a parking spot. 🙂 And he wouldn’t bat an eye. The tool to use on these unhinged people is fear. Not fear of pain or injury, but fear of being discovered for what they truly are. With him, I also made and kept close eye contact, but focused on the topic of empathy. I pointed out the reaction of the people around, and how I could *feel* them. They were frightened and some were crying, and I asked him if he could *feel* them. If he had *empathy*. I knew that he didn’t but I also knew that psychopaths/sociopaths/narcissists deep down know what they are, and they do everything in their power to hide it. Showing an obvious lack of empathy for other people’s suffering would “out” him, and so he left. He made sure that everyone was aware it was his decision, and not due to anything I said or fear of the angry person threatening him, but the bottom line is he left without any punches being thrown, and it was fear of being discovered that made him retreat.
“Well that’s you” is what I’ve heard time and time again. I’ve tried to make it clear that I’m not an exceptional person. I’ve never served in the military, I wasn’t trained by a martial arts master, and I don’t have super powers. I’m simply a person who recognized and admired the self-mastery of others like Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Bruce Lee, and instead of saying “Well, that’s them,” I told myself, “That can be me too.”
When an incident like this breaks out in front of you, that can be you too. You don’t have to be a bystander that cries, or screams, or calls the police and curses them for taking so long, or records the incident with your phone. You can be the one who steps forward and uses a commanding voice, an intense stare and mastery over your own emotions in order to stop the animals from ripping each other to shreds. And not for glory or recognition, but because we were imbued with more potential than to simply be bystanders, or animals tearing each other apart for silly things that don’t matter.
