Thanksgiving Martial Arts Mesa Style
Well November is here and most of us at least in the United
States will be gearing up for the end of the month and the accompanying feast.
This is a fantastic time of year. The energy seems to change for everyone as
people start to settle into the holiday spirit. This is also a good time of
year because a lot of our normal hustle starts to decline a bit. Of course
there is the holiday hustle but I am referring to the hustle of our normal
routines as more of our priorities shift towards holidays.
Thanksgiving in and of itself is a wonderful holiday to me
because at the heart of it we focus on what’s most important in our lives. Even
if that reflection is brief it allows us to add context to our lives. As a
martial artist I feel that the martial arts have taught me most of all to be
appreciative of what I have all the time. This comes from Budo as the study of
war which is our primary focus here at martial arts mesa. If you looked at your life as finite as it is within context I believe
everyone would be a little more grateful for all they have. This tends to slip
away as we fall into the delusion of ‘tomorrow’. Tomorrow is an uncertainty for
everyone. Take that to heart and then look at your life. One can’t help but to
simply be thankful.
I encourage you to take the spirit of thanksgiving into your
everyday routines far after the holiday season is over. There is a peace and
level of gratitude that you can feel all year long. It also allows you to make
better choices in my opinion. If you were truly grateful and had an understanding
that life is fragile you would make sure all the loose ends of your life are
tied up, you would form deeper and more meaningful relationship with the people
around you, and so much more. Your life would take on a new meaning if we could
just hold onto this attitude and see all year round. Martial Arts Mesa at The Budo Shingikan Dojo teaches Japanese style martial arts. The Samurai kept death in mind constantly. This was felt to have given them an advantage during war as well as help them support their local communities as well as to be proactive and positive members of society in times of peace.
As martial artists we must see that as our task. A true
Budoka is thankful for every day, appreciative for all the he or she has in
their lives, and makes choices based upon this spirit of being.
I am thankful for so much in my life and am greatly looking
forward to this holiday season with my friends, family, and martial arts mesa students.
In Oneness,
Sensei
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