If you have ever studied the martial arts, you will know that the most basic form of something, can also be the most truthful.

Martial arts comes in forms that have a wide range of styles and disciplines, beliefs, customs, and when studied, truly are a form of art. The power of Muay Thai. The flow of Wu Shu. The animal disciplines of the Tiger, Crane, Leopard, Snake, Dragon. All have their purpose.

My first instructor, was not what you would call a nice man. He used his knowledge to inflict pain, to harm, to injure. He was exactly the kind of instructor I needed during that time of my life.

Much later I found an instructor that taught me more truth about the martial arts, and being a person, then I understood at the time. “Fighting is in your heart, and that is good to embrace it. Never deny your true heart. Fighting however, does not always mean conflict. Because in life, having the knowledge, the skill, and the ability to inflict harm on another, means that you do not have to.”

I had many moments like this with my instructor over the years, and I will never forget the wisdom that he was trying to teach. I will always be grateful that he saw something in me, that I myself, had not yet discovered fully.

The Stone is hard. It can strike in the same method when motion is given to it. Stone can create. Stone can stand through time. Stone can crush. Stone is linear.

Water is soft and hard. It can strike in both methods when motion is given to it. Water brings life. Water evaporates through time. Water adapts. Water is flowing.

If you are not a practitioner of the martial arts, you should study them like anything else, because they can teach a great many things, to those who wish to learn. Like Stone, we are thrown into our lives, and situations, because of motion. That motion will make us land in Water, sooner or later. If the Water is not in motion, we are fine, because the stream of life is shallow to man, or woman, and Water can flow around the Stone.

If the Water of our lives is in motion, then trouble comes with it. Because if we are stone, then we think we are safe, because we are hard, and water flows around us. Add more Water though, and it will push you in a direction that you may not want to go. And if you stay in the Water too long, Water will destroy the Stone.

Our lives are a measure of balance. Understanding the Stone & Water of our lives, allows us to use either to live peacefully, and happily in our lives. When one is not balanced, it needs to be righted again, before we can continue. Sometimes that means eroding some of the Stone, sometimes it means evaporating some of the Water.

Stone & Water. Enjoy what you do.