Real Happiness

First a little back ground.  I was feeling all nostalgic this morning and opened up my MySpace...  yep, it still exists after about 5 years of not logging into it.  I read through some blog entries and came across this little gem.  I post it here now for you because i love it, and still agree with it.  I should add that the word "Samurai" means "to Serve" in japanese.  Keep this in mind.

"The Seven Virtues of the Samurai
GI - Honesty and Justice
"Be acutely honest throughout your dealings with
all people. Believe in justice, not from other
people, but from yourself. To a true samurai there
are no shades of gray in the question of
honesty and justice. There is only right and
wrong."
YU - Heroic Courage
"Rise above the masses of people that are afraid
to act. A samurai must have heroic courage. It is
absolutely risky, it is dangerous. Heroic courage is
not blind. It is intelligent and strong. Replace fear
with respect and caution."
JIN - Compassion
"Through intense training the samurai becomes
quick and strong. He is not as other men. He has
compassion. He helps his fellow men at every
opportunity. If the opportunity does not arise, he
goes out of his way to find one."
REI - Polite Courtesy
"Samurai have no reason to be cruel. They do not
need to prove their strength. A samurai is
courteous even to his enemies. Without this
outward show of respect we are nothing more
then animals. A samurai is not only respected for
his strength in battle, but also by his dealings
with other men."
MEYO - Honor
"The true samurai has only one judge of his
honor, and that is himself. Decisions you make
and how these decisions are carried out are a
reflection of who you are truly. You cannot hide
from yourself."
MAKOTO - Complete Sincerity
"When a samurai has said he will perform an
action, it is as good as done. Nothing on this
earth will stop him from completing what he has
said he will do. The action of speaking alone has
set the act of doing in motion. Speaking and
doing are the same action."
CHUGO - Duty and Loyalty
"For a samurai, having done something or said
something, he knows that he is a part of that
thing. He is responsible."

Ok, i know its kinda lengthy, but i think this is an excellent code of ethics to live by.  Too many people walking around today have no sense of true peace.  Too many people think that they can find happiness with fulfilling their own wants and desires;  playstation, or cars, that cool new cell phone,  or the biggest house on the block.  Are these things bad?  is money bad?  Absolutely not!  Materialism calls to us, tells us that we have to have money to be cool, sexy, loved, accepted.  So many people today not only believe this lie, but they perpetuate it.  Then years later you find people wondering what their life was all about...  what does it mean?  Unfortunately all too often people are much too old before they realise that they have wasted years acquiring "stuff",  time that could have been spent seeking true happiness.  True happiness?  what is true happiness?  I believe its different for everybody, But i can say this... James Brown,  The Godfather of Soul had 8500 people attending his funeral... 8500...  was it because he had a great voice?  He had an amazing voice!  but thats not it...  Good dance moves?  The man could move like no other!  But thats not it either...  James Brown was a champion for the people!  he helped the needy, he helped the poor,  he inspired millions to be better...  He even partly inspired this blog... Was he truly happy?  do you think he found this elusive true happiness?  was he at peace on his death bed?  I have no idea... But, reguadless of his religious affiliation, color, or music preference, i'd be willing to be my entire life's earnings that James Brown was at peace when he died!  And i'm not sure that there are many who could argue that pont.  I guess the point i'm trying to make is that Ture happiness does not come from an external source.  As the grinch once said  "It came without ribbons, it came without tags, it came without packages boxes or bags!"   So i would ask you to read the Samurai code once more... this time really think about these amazing men,  these men who lived by the %100 truth of the edge of a blade... in almost every situation these men could have what they wanted simply by killing...  but they understood that you can't get peace, or happiness, by taking.  It was through giving that these men truly felt that they had lived a meaningful honorable life.  I want you all to know that I am there for you!  if there is anything i can do i will do all in my power to help you!  Read the Samurai virtues again, and try to incorporate each virtue into your life.  Lets all try to be that inspiring person.  When I die i want to be at peace!  i want those around me to not have to question if i was at peace or not... i want them to know!  Thanks for reading guys!!!  Much love!!!"

So those are the words of me from 2006.  I can say now that i have found true happiness.  My true happiness is going to work every day to make money for my wife and kids.  It is the best!  No matter what happens at work i know why i am there, and it makes all the difference.  Thanks for reading!