Threat Management - The Demon Called Happiness
This is a unique topic because while it does have to do with personal defense and it does specifically address killing, it's not about how to kill someone else. This subject came about as an amazing surprise. Usually, a subject or idea will originate either from some kind of training technique or from an observation that might assist another in taking care of his or her physical well-being. Not this time. Once in a while, perhaps only a few times in a life, wisdom will drop down from above and literally smash you in the head with its clarity. Sage advice is expected when reading "great" works of eminently historical proportions. Or, some manuscript that has survived the ages is, by inference, expected to teach one some great philosophical concept that can, if one works hard enough to understand it, change how life is considered. Warriors of the past have expounded on techniques to kill enemies and to best use tactics to survive battles. If those adages are followed, then the survivor is a true warrior. Survival will make anyone happy. Right?
Not quite this time. Skill at arms and the ability to inflict great damage on enemies should, of course, be highly valued. When someone has attained those skills and the mindset to absolutely destroy the enemy, then personal attainment of a great goal has been reached (though it never really is reached, the learning always continues). Sometimes, however, the great goal seems hollow, as if there must be a bit more to life itself than the ability to virtually annihilate one's attackers. Yet, part of the instinct of those of us who choose to be wolves is the capacity to kill. What, then, happens when the very thing that needs killing is a part of us? Something like an idea, concept or a part of life that would make us unhappy?
I had an email conversation today with a very good friend who has literally been beaten by life over the past few months. She is very tough, so as I'd have expected, she is moving through the problems inflicted on her by others and putting her own life in order. After I commented on how life isn't necessarily one filled with happiness, she almost instantly replied. This is a case where great wisdom just appears, not that I was surprised that she'd comment, but I was stunned by the depth of her answer. I'll place her quote below but preface it by saying that I honestly do not think anything else needs to be said. I am going to attempt to follow her advice. You have free will, you can make your own decisions, but I would suggest considering what this very smart lady had to say.
"I have come to the conclusion that happiness doesn't just appear out of thin air, a person has to create it. So I say go be happy. Whether that is with or without {insert the person or problem here}. We are all just a bunch of emotionally dysfunctional morons running around slamming out heads into walls anyway. No one has a clue about what they are doing, ever. Those who think they have a clue got that way by lying to themselves until it became a reality."
Not quite this time. Skill at arms and the ability to inflict great damage on enemies should, of course, be highly valued. When someone has attained those skills and the mindset to absolutely destroy the enemy, then personal attainment of a great goal has been reached (though it never really is reached, the learning always continues). Sometimes, however, the great goal seems hollow, as if there must be a bit more to life itself than the ability to virtually annihilate one's attackers. Yet, part of the instinct of those of us who choose to be wolves is the capacity to kill. What, then, happens when the very thing that needs killing is a part of us? Something like an idea, concept or a part of life that would make us unhappy?
I had an email conversation today with a very good friend who has literally been beaten by life over the past few months. She is very tough, so as I'd have expected, she is moving through the problems inflicted on her by others and putting her own life in order. After I commented on how life isn't necessarily one filled with happiness, she almost instantly replied. This is a case where great wisdom just appears, not that I was surprised that she'd comment, but I was stunned by the depth of her answer. I'll place her quote below but preface it by saying that I honestly do not think anything else needs to be said. I am going to attempt to follow her advice. You have free will, you can make your own decisions, but I would suggest considering what this very smart lady had to say.
"I have come to the conclusion that happiness doesn't just appear out of thin air, a person has to create it. So I say go be happy. Whether that is with or without {insert the person or problem here}. We are all just a bunch of emotionally dysfunctional morons running around slamming out heads into walls anyway. No one has a clue about what they are doing, ever. Those who think they have a clue got that way by lying to themselves until it became a reality."
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