Give thanks for your enemies because they are your best teachers.
Today is National Teacher Appreciation Day so give thanks for your enemies because they are your best teachers. Appreciating one’s enemies seems kind of irrational because many of us use hate and anger as the fuel to combat them. At a higher level, we realize that our enemies can bring out the best in us. When they present themselves, they also present us with an opportunity. The philosophical quote, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear” means is that when we are hungry enough to learn, the lesson will present itself. Understanding this, everything, every person, every situation and even our enemies can serve as our teachers. What every person learns is different because it depends on where we find ourselves on the path of life. Today, it seems as if nature itself is our teacher and, gratefully, our enemy COVID-19 is bringing us a great many lessons. Generally, the lesson can be wherever we are experiencing the most suffering. To uncover the lesson, we only need to ask ourselves, “Why?” “Why?” leads us to the deeper root of the pain, frustration, or suffering and thus we realize the real enemy is not without but within. O’Sensei said, “Be grateful even for hardship, setbacks, and bad people. Dealing with such obstacles is an essential part of training in the art of peace.” The philosophy of Aikido is based upon the concepts of non-violence and harmony. Striving for harmony with our attacker enables us to see that they are not the opponent at all and then we can see that teacher is in everything. The founder of tea ceremony, Sen Rikyu wrote, “Fight your shame. Throw out your pride and learn all you can from others. This is the basis of a successful life.” Years from now, people will ask, “So what did you learn from the 2020 COVID crisis?” Hopefully, we will have learned many great lessons and used those lessons to change our lives for the better. Today, please appreciate your teachers for they will not last forever and be gone before you know it.
Today’s goal: Thank your enemies today for all their help.