"the Notebook of Elbert Hubbard"

I got back from our vacation in the desert recently...I found a book at the general store there titled, "the Notebook of Elbert Hubbard."  It's a used book, from 1927, 3 hole punched and bound in canvas...it's really cool.  I had never heard of Elbert Hubbard before I found his notebook...have you heard of him?  He's a really interesting figure from our past, so I'll be periodically posting quotes from this book.  He has an interesting way of putting things, and strange kind of wisdom, so please enjoy:

"It is easy to get everything you want, provided you first learn to do without the things you can not get."
-Elbert Hubbard

See you at the dojo!

Brian Colwell
We Love Kempo
"For the Love of the Martial Arts"
13240 Evening Creek Drive #314
San Diego, CA 92128
www.welovekempo.com

Wisdom from Native Americans: A Life of Service

The Wisdom of the Native Americans: the Ways of the People

"A Life of Service"

The public position of the Indian has always been entirely dependent upon our private virtue.  We are never permitted to forget that we do not live to ourselves alone, but to our tribe and clan.  Every child, from the first days of learning, is a public servant in training.

In our traditional ways, the child is kept ever before the public eye, from birth onward.  The birth would be announced by the tribal herald, accompanied by a distribution of presents to the old and needy.  The same thing would occur when the child took its first step, spoke its first word, had its ears pierced, shot his first game.

Not a step in the child's development was overlooked as an excuse to bring it before the public by giving a feast in its honor.  Thus the child's progress was known to the whole clan as to a larger family, and the child grew to adulthood with a sense of reputation to sustain.

At such feasts the parents often gave so generously to the needy that they almost impoverished themselves, thereby setting an example to the child of self-denial for the public good.  In this way, children were shown that big-heartedness, generosity, courage, and self-denial are the qualifications of a public servant, and from the cradle we sought to follow this ideal.

The young boy was encouraged to enlist early in the public service, and to develop a wholesome ambition for the honors of a leader and feastmaker, which could never be his unless he proved truthful and generous, as well as brave, and ever mindful of his personal chastity and honor.

As to the young girls, it was the loving parents' pride to have their daughters visit the unfortunate and the helpless, carry them food, comb their hair, and mend their garments.  The name "Wenonah," bestowed upon the eldest daughter, means "Bread Giver," or "Charitable One," and a girl who failed in her charitable duties was held to be unworthy of the name.

Boy Scouts: remember the lessons of the Order of the Arrow: "Cheerful Service"

See you at the top!

Brian Colwell
3rd Generation Eagle Scout &
Martial Arts Superhero!!!

Wisdom from Native Americans: Ohiyesa

"Is there not something worthy of perpetuation in our Indian spirit of democracy, where Earth, our mother, was free to all, and no one sought to impoverish or enslave his neighbor?"
--Ohiyesa

We do not chart and measure the vast field of nature or express her wonders in the terms of science; on the contrary, we see miracles on every hand--the miracle of life in seed and egg, the miracle of death in a lightning flash and in the swelling deep!

Wisdom from Native Americans: Chief Luther Standing Bear

"From Wakan Tanka, the Great Spirit, there came a great unifying life force that flowed in and through all things--the flowers of the plains, blowing winds, rocks, trees, birds, animals--and was the same force that had been breathed into the first man.  Thus all things were kindred, and were brought together by the same Great Mystery.

Kinship with all creatures of the earth, sky, and water was a real and active principle.  In the animal and bird world there existed a brotherly feeling that kept the Lakota safe among them.  And so close did some of the Lakotas come to their feathered and furred friends that in true brotherhood they spoke a common tongue.

The animals had rights--the right of man's protection, the right to live, the right to multiply, the right to freedom, and the right to man's indebtedness-- and in recognition of these rights the Lakota never enslaved an animal, and spared all life that was not needed for food and clothing.

This concept of life and its relations was humanizing, and gave to the Lakota an abiding love.  It filled his being with the joy and mystery of living; it gave him reverence for all life; it made a place for all things in the scheme of existence with equal importance to all.

The Lakota could despise no creature, for all were of one blood, made by the same hand, and filled with the essence of the Great Mystery.  In spirit, the Lakota were humble and meek.  'Blessed are the meek, for the shall inherit the earth'--this was true for the Lakota, and from the earth they inherited secrets long since forgotten.  Their religion was sane, natural, and human."

--Chief Luther Standing Bear
Teton Sioux

The Legend of the Order of the Arrow

Remember Scouts: CHEERFUL SERVICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wisdom from Native Americans: Black Hawk

"We have men among us, like the whites, who pretend to know the right path, but will not consent to show it without pay!  I have no faith in their paths, but believe that every man must make his own path!"

--Black Hawk
Sauk

Wisdom from Native Americans: Thayendanegea

"No person among us desires any other reward for performing a brave and worthy action, but the consciousness of having served his nation."

-Joseph Brant (Thayendanegea)

Mohawk

Wisdom from Native Americans: Wovoka

"My young men shall never farm.  Men who work the soil cannot dream, and wisdom comes to us in dreams."
-Wovoka

Paiute, 1915

Wisdom from Native Americans: Teedyuscung

"When you begin a great work you can't expect to finish it all at once; therefore do you and your brothers press on, and let nothing discourage you till you have entirely finished what you have begun.

Now, Brother, as for me, I assure you I will press on, and the contrary winds may blow strong in my face, yet I will go forward and never turn back, and continue to press forward until I have finished, and I would have you do the same...

Though you may hear birds singing on this side and that side, you must not take notice of that, but hear me when I speak to you, and take it to heart, for you may always depend that what I say shall be true."

--Teedyuscung
Delaware

Wisdom from Native Americans: Cochise

"You must speak straight so that your words may go as sunlight into our hearts"
--Cochise ("Like Ironweed")
Chiricahua Chief

Wisdom from Native Americans: Wovoka

"You ask me to plow the ground.  Shall I take a knife and tear my mother's bosom?  Then when I die she will not take me to her bosom to rest.

You ask me to dig for stones!  Shall I dig under her skin for her bones?  Then when I die I cannot enter her body to be born again.

You ask me to cut grass and make hay and sell it, and be rich like white men, but how dare I cut my mother's hair?

I want my people to stay with me here.  All the dead men will come to life again.  Their spirits will come to their bodies again.  We must wait here in the homes of our fathers and be ready to meet them in the bosom of our mother."

-Wovoka
Paiute

Wisdom from Native Americans: Chief Seattle

"What is man without the beasts?  If all the beasts were gone, men would die from great lonliness of spirit, for whatever happens to the beasts also happens to man.  All things are connected.  Whatever befalls the earth befalls the children of the earth."

-Chief Seattle
Suqwamish and Duwamish

Weekly motivation!--Socrates

The way to gain a good reputation, is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear. - Socrates 

Or, as I've always said: Fake it 'til you make it!!!

See you SCOUTS!!!  Hope this helps.


-Sensei Brian Colwell
We Love Kempo Martial Arts Dojo
"For the love of the Martial Arts"
San Diego, CA 92128

Motivation for the week! Francis Bacon

"A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds."
Francis Bacon

That's right, Scouts!  You can't wait for the opportunities to come along.  You have to know what you want, and then go out there and get it!  Do you want to get to Eagle Scout?  Good!  Then start taking the steps NOW to get there.  Don't wait around on your Eagle Project anymore...you still have another month of Summer vacation left...get it done!

See you at the dojo!


-Sensei Brian
We Love Kempo Martial Arts Dojo
"For the Love of the Martial Arts"
San Diego, CA 92128

Daily motivation! Carlos Castaneda

We either make ourselves happy or miserable. The amount of work is the same.
Carlos Castaneda

I love this!  Success doesn't have to be hard!  If it feels good, gets good results, and no body gets hurt in the process then that's the way to go.  Lot's of times we think if it's easy, then it's too good to be true...not so!  Believe in the good in people!

See you soon,

Sensei Brian Colwell
We Love Kempo Martial Arts Dojo
"For the Love of the Martial Arts"
San Diego, CA 92128

Daily motivation: Abraham Maslow

"What is life for?  It is for you." --Abraham Maslow

Take life for all it's worth.  Own it!  Do what makes you happy every day.  Do something every day to get one step closer to reaching your dreams.  When we do this, our dreams and goals become not just possible, but inevitable.

See you at the top!

Sensei Brian Colwell
Martial Arts Superhero &
3rd Generation Eagle Scout Ninja
We Love Kempo Martial Arts Dojo
"For the Love of the Martial Arts"
San Diego, CA 92128

Daily Motivation: words from a Franciscan Benediction

These are some really nice words to think about as you fall asleep.  Words that kind of help keep you humble and determined to reach your goals and make a difference.

"May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that you will reach out your hand to comfort them and change their pain into joy.  Any may God bless you with the foolishness to think that you can make a difference in the world, so that you will do the things which others tell you cannot be done."

--a Franciscan Benediction

See you at the didgeridoo circle!

Sensei Brian Colwell
Martial Arts Superhero &
3rd Generation Eagle Scout Ninja
We Love Kempo Martial Arts Dojo
"For the Love of the Martial Arts"
San Diego, CA 92128

Daily Inspiration: W.H. Auden

Always remember you're a Scout.  You have an obligation to help other people at all times.  Always work to give back to Scouting MORE than you've gotten out of it.

"We are here on earth to do good for others.  What the others are here for I do not know."

--W.H. Auden

See you at the top!

Sensei Brian Colwell
Martial Arts Superhero &
3rd Generation Eagle Scout Ninja
We Love Kempo Martial Arts Dojo
"For the Love of the Martial Arts"
San Diego, CA 92128

Daily inspiration: Josephine Billings

Are you a hero to a younger Scout, a young brother or sister?  You might be someone's hero and not even know it.  If you're a leader in your Troop, you probably ARE a role model to a younger Scout, especially when it comes to what you've achieved in Scouting through your advancement in rank.

"To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world."

--Josephine Billings

See you at the top!

Sensei Brian Colwell
Martial Arts Superhero &
3rd Generation Eagle Scout Ninja
We Love Kempo Martial Arts Dojo
"For the Love of the Martial Arts"
San Diego, CA 92128

Daily Motivation: Don't go through life, grow through life

I think I found my new daily affirmation.  This one by Jack London is pretty hot, gets you going and fired up to go slay it!  Success is here!

"I would rather be ashes than dust; I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot; I would rather be in a superb meteor, every atom of me in a magnificent glow than in a sleepy and permanent planet; the proper function of man is to live, not to exist; I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them; I shall USE my time."

--Jack London

Have fun with this!  Put it on the dash of your car so you can read it every day as you go to school or to work!

See you at the dojo!

Sensei Brian Colwell
Martial Arts Superhero &
3rd Generation Eagle Scout Ninja
We Love Kempo Martial Arts Dojo
"For the Love of the Martial Arts"
San Diego, CA 92128