A Warrior Inspires
How would you live life if you knew that it was about to end? What separates a warrior from others is that a warrior knows that life is not finite and that death is closer rather than farther away. This thin edge makes the warrior live their life differently. Chadwick Boseman said, “You have to cherish things in a different way when you know the clock is ticking, you are under pressure.” A true warrior would rather live with dignity and grace and perfect their short lives rather than brood and let their emotions get the better of them. O’Sensei said, “The Art of Peace begins with you. Work on yourself and your appointed task in the Art of Peace. Everyone has a spirit that can be refined, a body that can be trained in some manner, a suitable path to follow. You are here to realize your inner divinity and manifest your innate enlightenment. Foster peace in your own life and then apply the Art to all that you encounter.” Chadwick Boseman passed away at the age of 43 and he seemed to live just as O’Sensei asserted. At the height of his career, most didn’t know that while he was enjoying his greatest successes, he was also fighting for his life and battling cancer. It is mind boggling that he would be scheduling treatments between movie shoots. His job might have been to act, but Chadwick's real goal was to inspire and change the world. O’Sensei’s assertion and Chadwick’s life might seem like superhero stuff, but it’s not. Each of us comes to the table with a tremendous amount of raw talent and unrealized capability and it only emerges with hard work, dedication and sacrifice. Our greatness is not to be used to subjugate others or lord over them, but rather to inspire others to their greatest level. Chadwick said, “Everything you fought for is not for yourself, it’s for those that come after you.” Thus, like all good teachers, parents, friends and superheroes, a warrior is supposed to reflect back on others a better version of themselves and Chadwick Boseman’s life did just that. Rest in Peace, Chadwick Boseman.