The Path of the Warrior

Sensei Marcel once asked me "Do you want to be a warrior?", me being a young man with an enthusiasm for the martial arts I answered yes. He replied, "I would rather be the fool on the hill. A warrior must always be at war." For some background information 'The Fool on the Hill" is in reference to a Beatles song by that name. In this song a story is told of a man who is ridiculed by those around him for being strange or slow because he does not seem to understand or care for those things that are important to them. The chorus continues to tell the story from the man's perspective. He does not concern himself with what others say or do. In one part of the chorus we hear this quote, "And the fool on the hill sees the sun going down and the eyes in his head see the world spinning round". In this song I hear a story of a man who is at peace with himself.

As front line service workers we experience difficulties and dangers on a daily basis. We are concerned, not only, with our own safety but the safety of others, including strangers. These elements can create a lot of stress, on top of the usual stress felt by most people. These stressors, prolonged, can cause serious health risks, physically, mentally and spiritually and should be dealt with in some way. At some point we all must leave our respective battlefields behind. I don't mean quitting our jobs and looking for other employment, although if you wish to do so and have an opportunity please do not stay at a job that makes you unhappy. The battlefield I am referring to is the 'battlefield of the mind'. A place fraught with demons and traps, that not only front line service workers fight in, but everyone. These demons and traps do need to be dealt with, if not they can lead us down very dark paths. How to do this, in my opinion it is through exercising the body, mind and spirit.

Exercising the body, for me this is through the martial arts, for you, it can be something different, however; it does need to be some kind of physical activity. Why physical activity, for a few reasons. Physical activity has been proven to raise Endorphins, Dopamine and Serotonin, the feel good chemicals. Feeling happy is a big deal when you are down, it can help us see the good that is around us. A byproduct of consistent exercise is improving our physiques. We can rightly begin to feel a sense of confidence and pride in the work well done. Lastly, exercise can be a positive outlet for negative feelings, a controlled release of the pressure inside.

Exercising the mind, I do this through reading, writing, meditating and chess. Meditating can teach us about the nature of the mind and how to live with it, as well as influence it. Pursuing an intellectual exercise can provide us with focus when we aren't exercising. Lastly, like physical exercise, intellectual exercise improves the quality of our mind which can also impart a sense of confidence and pride.

Now to the spirit, the third part of our trifectas (body, mind and spirit). In my opinion, we can exercise the spirit, but this is a very personal subject for everyone and I wouldn't presume to tell anyone how to do this, although being a kind person will go a long way in this regard. Personally, I exercise the spirit through practicing religion and philosophy. I do feel strongly that exercising the body and mind without looking at the spirit is cultivating an unbalanced life.

The goal of a warrior is to achieve that state of being "the fool on the hill". By exercising the body, mind and spirit we can cultivate peace of mind. With that peace of mind, perhaps one could view their horrific experiences and the struggles afterwards as badges of honour and lessons. Perhaps then using those to cultivate a confidence in uncertain times.

Bro. Michael Doucette