In feudal Japan, the sword was more than a weapon. The sword was status. It was honor. It was pride. As such, sword makers were revered in that culture. A master blacksmith would spend weeks carefully forging and shaping a blade, for they understood that excellence requires patience and respect for the process.
I want you to think now: what kind of sword are you crafting?
Your life is analogous to a sword. Are you taking the time to sharpen your strengths and buff out your weaknesses? Do you embrace the times when you have to grind so that your best work can show forth? Are you resilient and able to weather the many battles life will throw your way? Are you actively harnessing your passions to be an effective weapon wherever you are placed in life?
Or, are you simply a factory stamped sword? Do you look like the real deal, but are really a fragile ornamental piece? Are you a passive product of the stamps society places on you? A bland, dispassionate, mass produced part of "the system"? Do you neglect your craft and fail to constantly seek improvement?
Think about it.
I seek to be one who hones his craft every day. My mission to make myself and others stronger requires that I show up every training day and give my blood, sweat, tears, and soul in the gym. I have to prioritize my nutrition, sleep, recovery, and education so that I can be as good as I can be in order to teach others. The pursuit of excellence requires daily sacrifice.
Getting better at anything is a long term prospect, but it always starts with DAILY effort. Ingrain a pattern of hard work and a thirst for knowledge within yourself and giving up will become nearly impossible. Whether you're a mathematician, engineer, or medical anthropologist, never stop seeking to get better and perfect your craft. Embrace the grind. Sharpen your sword.
Stay Strong,
JB
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