Know What You Will and Won’t Put Up With

I won’t be wronged. I won’t be insulted. I won’t be laid a hand on. I don’t do these things to other people and I require the same from them. John Wayne in The Shootist

Every man of honor needs a code to live by, even if it is as simple as the one above. You need to know what you stand for and what you won’t stand for in life. If you refuse to be wronged, insulted, or to have someone aggressively lay their hands on you, you need to be clear on how you will respond if these things happen to you.

There are some things worth fighting for and other things which are not worth injuring someone over. You must be clear about what is worth fighting for and what is not worth your time or effort. Not every offense is worth your response, much less your martial prowess.

While it is perfectly fine to not allow others to treat you like dirt, you must understand what is worth getting physical about and what is below you as a warrior. There is an old Chinese proverb that states, “Why blast a sparrow with a cannon?”

If you have honed your skills to a high level, then your martial arts skills are like a cannon compared to the fighting skills of the average guy on the street. Don’t allow people to treat you badly, but at the same time, don’t over-react to the situation.

Stand up for yourself and require that others treat you as they should, but don’t lose your cool. There is more than one way to address a wrong. Make sure your actions are right, no matter how others act. Bohdi Sanders ~ excerpt from BUSHIDO: The Way of the Warrior, available from Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1937884201 or from The Wisdom Warrior website at: https://thewisdomwarrior.com.