It’s natural to have regrets, but this does not mean that you should live in a state of regret.

Many people say that you shouldn’t regret anything, but I think what they mean is that they don’t regret how things have turned out even if they had to go through some difficulty and hardship to get there. So we do not regret the outcomes.

We do not regret what we have done. This is only possible if you live intentionally and accept that mistakes happen. Learning occurs through those mistakes. Learning is how improvement happens. And how could we ever regret improving our lives. - Miyamoto Musashi, Dokkōdō

Dokkōdō Link: https://edlatimore.com/dokkodo/

Integrity means always staying true to your values, even when faced with temptation or adversity. It means never compromising your principles for personal gain. It’s about walking the path of righteousness, no matter how challenging it may be. In a world where the temptations to serve our egos often overshadows our focus on personal honor, it takes a special kind of martial artist to stay grounded and maintain their integrity. - Donavon L Riley 

Article link: https://spotterup.com/integrity-the-backbone-of-a-true-warrior/

There is no reason why someone is chosen to be a scapegoat beyond the immediate imperative to restore order. Once the mimetic process pushes a society to the height of the disturbance, the mechanism of bloody pacification begins to work. In the first step, a person is identified as guilty of causing chaos, and all are sure of his guilt. He, then, must be sacrificed to restore social peace, and the mimetic behavior returns in the form of mob action. Once the sacrifice is completed, the social animus returns to normal, and the one – once considered guilty by the crowd – is raised to the plateau of deity. Then the cycle begins once more.

*** I erred at the beginning of the episode, and should have said "Imitation is the highest form of compliment."

Link to my new blog and the podcast, The Area of Operations: https://spotterup.com

When we step onto the mats, we become part of something greater than ourselves. We become part of a lineage, a brotherhood, a sisterhood, a family that stretches back through time. In this family, respect is not an option; it’s a non-negotiable requirement. It’s a virtue that must be embraced and upheld by each and every member, regardless of their rank, experience, or skill level.

Bushido Link: https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/knowledge-of-men/the-bushido-code-the-eight-virtues-of-the-samurai/

Welcome to The (Martial Arts) Jungle: https://spotterup.com/welcome-to-the-martial-arts-jungle/

First, stop trying to be the person you think other people want you to be. Second, stop listening to people who aren't where you want to be. These are symptoms of the hurt child's mind.

“Every event has two handles - one by which it can be carried, and one by which it can't.” - Epictetus, Enchiridion, 43

The Holy Spirit is no tame pet to be leashed and controlled. Oh no, he is more like a raging wildfire, consuming everything in his path. The Holy Spirit is the sledgehammer that knocks holes in the fortress of our hearts and brings us crashing down to the reality of God's grace. 

“When microdosing, I notice a lot of differences in my energy level, motivation and focus, but most importantly, I really feel it brings more color to my life. I think more creatively and easily make connections. This leads me to experiment more, in different areas of my life. For instance, when I was doing music photography, I would be more open to different techniques, do double exposures, and use the light differently. I just feel I have more ideas, more fluidity in my creative processes and don’t overthink things as much. I just go for it.” - Susana, a photographer and visual artist from Amsterdam

Blog Link: https://microdosinginstitute.com/inner-work/microdosing-and-creativity/

In this topsy-turvy world, where truth is often obscured by a haze of deceit and propaganda, only the Holy Spirit can navigate us through a treacherous landscape of news and social media, separating fact from fiction for us, and exposing the charlatans and demagogues who seek to manipulate our minds.  

And so, holding up the Word of God like a neon sign in the desert of despair, the Holy Spirit illuminates our path and guides us through the darkest of nights. He brings us preachers to remind us that we are not defined by the opinions of others or the whims of popular culture, but by the radical and scandalous love of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“The State takes the place of God… the socialist dictatorships are religions and State slavery is a form of worship.” - Carl Jung, The Undiscovered Self