Here are 3 quotes, the most interesting thing I learned this week, 1 essay, and 1 question to reflect on.

3 Quotes

“Know the advantages and disadvantages of everything.” – Miyamoto Musashi

“Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.” – Hippocrates, Precepts (tr. W. H. S. Jones, 1923)

“The way is long if one follows precepts, but short and helpful if one follows patterns.” – Seneca, Letters to Lucilius no. 6

The Most Interesting Thing I Learned this Week

Cold water therapy is not a new thing. It is a practice that has stood the test of time.

Ancient Greeks use cold-water for therapies as well as relaxation and socialization. In 4 BC, Hippocrates documented the use of cold for medicinal purposes and health benefits in his work entitled “On airs, waters and places.” He wrote that “the water can cure everything.” 

Whether you read about the benefits of the Arima Hot Springs from ancient emperors in Japan or the sweat lodges of Native American warriors, cultures around the world have been pushing their bodies in the name of better health. 

When Leonidas defended the hot gates of Thermopylae against the Persians, he was a young 60 years old. How many 60 year olds today do you know that are battle ready, physically and mentally capable of leading men?

Burning it down

“If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable.” Seneca, Letters to Lucilius no. 71

Perspective is everything. To a sailor, winds are crucial to life at sea. But yet, to the citizens of Athens most recently, winds were almost their downfall. Over 25,000 acres burned during the wildfires. The flames were fanned by aggressive summer winds to within 8 miles of central Athens. 

With over 3 million residents, many wondered if the town of Athens would burn to the ground. What most don’t realize is the toughness of the human mind and the human body. 

In 480 BC, the Greeks themselves burned Athens completely to the ground. At the time, the population was estimated to be around 200,000 residents. Regardless of the number, they torched the town and fled before the invading Persian army could arrive.  Yet the town has been rebuilt and thrived for thousands of years.

The patterns throughout our lives and the lives of those before us that can help deal with almost any challenge today. History will teach you if you want to learn. Your mind cannot be sharp if your body is not strong. No amount of cold-plunging will save you from a lack of sleep, no physical exercise and poor nutrition. 

Being your best at work cannot come at the cost of your health. How can you do your  best work if you are sick, if you are weak, if you are tired, if you are not in control of your thoughts? 

Musashi knew that they Way of the Sword required a holistic approach. It was not just about how to hold the sword. It was not just about what kind of sword you had. It was not just about how you use the sword. 

“Your entire body becomes flexible, your mind becomes quick, you become skillful on your own with the sword, your body and feet work harmoniously with your mind, and you move as you please.” – Miyamoto Musashi

Being great at your work starts with making sure you are strong – mentally, physically, spiritually. These areas require consistent training, consistent rest, consistent learning. 

Without direction and without the right practice in all aspects of your life, no wind is favorable.

1 Question to Reflect on

Do you know if you have favorable winds to sail to your destination?

The Real Con 95