Practical Wisdom from the Entrepreneurs Creative Edge by William Reed

A Zen proverb reads Hibi Kore Koujitsu (日日是好日), "Every Day a Good Day." A reminder that when it rains, we enjoy the rain. When the wind blows, we enjoy the wind. Even when there is no specific reason for enjoyment, we appreciate what we have. This is something that comes from within, and is not just a superficial pleasantry.

 

This seems fitting in Australia, where the standard greeting is G'Day, or "Good Day." Australians may have become accustomed to it, a simple way to say hello. But to foreign born ears it has a particularly pleasing ring.

 

"G'Day, Mate!" is closer to the full greeting, and really settles nicely when it comes with a friendly handshake or a bear hug, and a smile to match. That brief moment of eye contact is very special, with the reminder that YES!, we are lucky to be alive and having a very good day.

 

I'm in Australia as I write this, on a tour teaching Nanba and Aikido, and cannot help but feel that this simple greeting is a reflection of exactly what I came to teach, as well as to learn from the spirit of those I meet and greet.

 

Yet though we may be blessed with many reasons for having a Good Day, in fact the spirit of the proverb is more proactive than that. If you are having a Good Day only because of something, then when that reason is removed, you will be having a Bad Day, as many do, all over the world. It is easier to find words of complaint or dissatisfaction, than to find words of approval and appreciation.

 

Where do you go

If you are up a gum tree,

Mucking around, feeling low

 

Take a walk with me

A Samurai Walkabout no less

To a watering hole like you'll never see

 

An oasis of Practical Wisdom

Easy to grasp; it'll make your day

Physical finesse and mental freedom

 

This poem was written by my good friend Hugh Purser, precisely for the occasion of this tour, and fittingly it fell on the day of the Queensland Poetry Festival in Brisbane.

 

Now we have released three books of such prose and poetry, illustrated with original calligraphy and design.

 

A SAMURAI WALK THROUGH PRACTICAL WISDOM

10 MEANINGS OF WA: Explaining Japan's Inner Strength

BUDO, BLOGS, AND POEMS

 

You can find these under the heading of Books from Samurai Walk, at the website: http://www.samurai-walk.com/

Even if you don't feel like you are having a Good Day, you will find as people for centuries have, that reading positive poetry aloud can lift your spirits, and make it a G'Day indeed.

 

It is important to read it aloud, not just to read it, and to let others hear it, particularly children and young people. Reading aloud has fallen out of favor, moved aside for television, video games, and other convenient distractions of our day, many of which we have become unable to do without.

 

Are we to have a WiFi Day instead? Is this the way we want to be born and bred? Save some time for real, not just virtual connections. Rediscover what it means to appreciate, and to truly live in the moment, Every Day a Good Day.

 

William Reed

WEBSITE: http://www.williamreed.jp

WEB TV: http://williamreed.tv

NANBA: http://www.nanbanote.com

iPAD CREATORS CLUB: http://ipadcreatorsclub.com

BLOG: http://www.EntrepreneursCreativeEdge.com