One of my favorite movies of 2018 was Mission: Impossible – Fallout. Tom Cruise played brave Secret Agent Ethan Hunt on his chosen mission to save the world from mass destruction, yet again. Fallout had one of the best fight scenes in the pantheon of action movies with Tom, Henry Cavill, and martial artist Liang Yang. Total badass.
That being said, Mission: Impossible – Fallout surprised in its eloquent poignancy. Ethan had sacrificed the great love of his life, Julia, played by Michelle Monaghan so that he could literally save the world. He let Julia go so that he could keep the world safe and sound.
The dedicated physician Julia reinvented her life. She fell in love and remarried. She submerged under the radar, resurfacing every once in a while to let Ethan know that she was all right. Ethan was the great love of Julia’s life, too.
In Fallout’s narrative arc, Ethan and Julia reunited on the verge of global thermonuclear demise. After enduring tremendous hardship and suffering, Ethan saved the world once again. In the brutal aftermath, he’s rescued from the frozen Himalayan mountains. He recovered from his injuries in the mobile-based hospital.
Ethan suffered great regret over placing Julia’s life in grave danger, because of who he was.
Ethan: Julia, I’m sorry.
Julia: There’s no need to be sorry.
Ethan: What happened here. It was my (fault)…
Julia: Nothing happened, because you were here. And I sleep soundly at night, knowing you will always be… I’m exactly where I should be, and so are you.
I cried in the theater.
The late Mizukami Sensei said, “The world would be a better place if everyone trained in Aikido.”
That was his profound wish. I got it. I got Sensei. With all due mad respect to Sensei, that wasn’t going to happen. Not everyone wanted to train in Aikido, much less dedicate to endure the training. Aikido is a choice. Still, deep in his heart, Sensei wanted the world to be a better place, regardless of how. Aikido was just one particular way; one that he had a profound affinity for. It was not the only way. There are always possibilities.
In the bigger picture, I just train. I don’t have to get somewhere. I have nothing to prove. Mizukami Sensei trained his students like Ishibashi Sensei and me to be good people, to use our powers for good, not evil, to make a difference in the world. We perpetuate Sensei’s legacy of service of making a difference for others, to make the world a better place. I dedicate my life in the service of others as Sensei did. In Aikido, I invent the greater-than versions of myself and guide others in inventing their own greater-than versions. O-Sensei Morihei Ueshiba said:
The way of the warrior is to give life to all things, to reconcile the world, and to foster the completion of everyone’s journey.
I help guide others on their individual journeys of self-discovery. They still have to grind it out. Put in the work. The invention of the greater-than version of ourselves generates greater communities. We have greater influence in the world as a community. Just saying.
The greater world emerges in the participation of greater communities. We are those greater communities. The world is a better place because we are here.
Sensei’s legacy was that of being the better person, in serving others. I guide Aikido students, as Sensei had guided me, as they invent their own greater-than versions. We influence the creation of other greater-than communities. Perhaps, the world can become a better place. That was Sensei’s dream. Mine, as well.
We can all sleep soundly at night knowing that we are here. That we are in the world, and the world can be a greater place. I get from my own trials and tribulations, I’m exactly where I should be. So are you. Just saying.
***
The Good Men Project gives people the insights, tools, and skills to survive, prosper and thrive in today’s changing world. A world that is changing faster than most people can keep up with that change. A world where jobs are changing, gender roles are changing, and stereotypes are being upended. A world that is growing more diverse and inclusive. A world where working towards equality will become a core competence. We’ve built a community of millions of people from around the globe who believe in this path forward. Thanks for joining The Good Men Project.
Support us on Patreon and we will support you and your writing! Tools to improve your writing and platform-building skills, a community to get you connected, and access to our editors and publisher. Your support will help us build a better, more inclusive world for all.
***
Photo credit: Shutterstock
