Moderate men don’t try to control what happens. Why? They don’t mind what happens. They’re imbued with a beneficial indifference to life on the outside. They welcome what comes. They release what goes. They accept what is. “The poor you will always have with you,” Jesus said, “but you will not always have me.”
My daughter recently posted this. I re-post it here with her kind permission: “Gratitude. I’ve never had more than I do right now. Two weeks ago I found out I have brain cancer. I am booked in for surgery at the end of this month to remove as much as possible. I don’t know what the future holds, no one does. What I do know is how grateful I am for this physical body of mine that has supported me to the best of its abilities for 41 beautiful years. I know it is still doing its best even during these more challenging times. I am grateful for my family and my friends who have embraced me with so much love, protection and healing energy. This experience has bonded us. I am grateful for the way this cancer revealed itself to us. In the safety of my own home with my strong as nails husband and wise beyond her years daughter. I am grateful that I am able to be treated and cared for in a specialized hospital in such a fast and efficient way. I could go on but I am amazed how Gratitude alone can change a situation. This is meant for me and I am grateful. Gratitude and love, my two favourite feelings. Sending both to you all.”
We were made for this, summoned and destined for this—to ‘play’ (as the Chinese say of tai chi) with adversity in a composed and skillful way.
Our response to what happens is vastly more important than what happens.
When you stand, do not favour one foot over the other. Note the scalene triangle connecting big and little toes to the centre of the heel. Allow your weight to fill this geometric. Do not stand with your knees locked.
Feet control legs, hands control arms. By attending to the extremities, we move gracefully, economically. Let the eyes lead the head, not the other way around. This prevents us from walking like tourists.
Men's Work 