I’m in partial chocolate coma as a I write this.
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai is playing in the background.
Life seems to be one of these rusty conveyor belts of past regrets, future anxieties, and a present moments.
I mean we have many of these and the samurai knew this.
This scene encapsulates it all
Quoted from the film
Top scene. A warrior reading, still as a stone. “There is surely nothing other than the single purpose of the present moment.” Translation? Stop multitasking your soul into oblivion. Whatever’s in front of you. That’s the mission. The book. The breath. The next step.
Bottom scene: A blade poised, ready. “A man’s whole life is a succession of moment after moment.” Every second is a brick in the wall of who you become. Screw up this one? Fine. The next is already here.
Yeah it’s probably too zen for a lot of people but if you were jumping into combat or whatever. That could be a whole strategy too.
The past is a ghost. The future is a rumour.
But right now? That’s where you plant your feet.
Where you choose to act, to wait, to live instead…
Sometimes you’ll have to sit down and ask yourself metaphorically speaking:
What’s your sword right now? (I mean if it’s literal. I’m not gonna judge)
Where’s your focus leaking? (Put a bucket under that shit)
What one thing can you own today? (Not tomorrow. Not “someday.” Today)
I struggle with the last one a lot but I try move the needle with the writing.
People treat the present like some weird pitstop and it’s not. I’d probably say it’s the whole race if you treat it right.
Now if you excuse me. I’m going to presently eat 1-2 more easter eggs and then pass out.
Stephen Walker
P.S. If you’re waiting for a “perfect time,” Congrats. You’re already dead. The perfect time is never. The right time is now.