Happy Lunar New Year! The Year of the Snake. The snake is the 6th of the 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac. The snake is the midpoint; thus, represents balance.
Those born in the Year of the Snake are deep thinkers, known for their calm demeanor, resourcefulness, and ability to analyze situations before they take action. They’re very good at understanding and caring about others.
My late Mom and the late Mizukami Sensei were born in the Year of the Snake in 1929. Mom and Sensei were the two most important people to me on Planet Earth. They passed away several years ago. Rest in peace.
Although they’re gone, Mom and Sensei are always inside me, always by my side. When I’m afraid inside, I hear Mom’s voice, “Slow down, Jonny.” She reminds me to calm my soul, that things have a way of working out. When I think I’m no good, that I can’t do it, I hear Mizukami’s voice, “Just train.” I don’t have to get somewhere or be someone else. I can just be me.
Mom and Sensei taught me calm, to be quiet inside. When Dad scared the hell out of me, Mom said, “Take a deep breath.” Sensei taught me to calm my mind when I’m under attack. He taught me the koan: Mushin. Mushin. In Japanese, mushin means empty mind or no mind. That koan translates as: If you think about having an empty mind, you don’t have one. I can only create from nothing, from mushin. I can only invent myself self from nothing, too.
In Aikido, Sensei said, “Wait it out. Enter the attack. Take a glancing blow if you have to. You’re not always going to get away scot-free. It’s one time.” Sensei was old school. He was samurai. He taught me to be samurai. I have to be willing to take a hit, take a glancing blow for what’s meaningful to me. Sensei taught me courage, taught me to be strong inside. That’s far more important than being strong on the outside.
In Japanese, samurai literally means to serve, to be of service. Compassion is one of the 8 virtues of the Samurai. Mom and Sensei lived their lives in service and compassion. Mom was a grade schoolteacher, who taught thousands of children for over 30 years. Sensei taught hundreds of students Aikido for over 50 years. I was one of them. Mom and Sensei authentically got who people were, and genuinely cared about them, and who they could become. They made a difference for others. They made a profound difference in my life.
To become the man, I wanted to be, I needed someone to guide me. That wasn’t Dad, rather he didn’t know how. Mom got that, too. In her unconditional love, Mom gave me permission to make Sensei, my father. Mizukami Sensei gave me permission to make him my father.
For 25 years until he passed away, Sensei taught me Aikido and what it is to be a good man. I’m Godan (5th degree black belt), because of Sensei. I’m the man I’m proud to be, is because of Sensei and Mom.
Years ago, Mom and Sensei met. We all had dinner at Sensei and his wife Alyce’s home. When Mom and I were walking to my car to go home, Mom grabbed Sensei’s arm. She said, “Thank you for looking out for Jon.” Sensei smiled. He said, “He looks out for me.” I walked to my car with tears in my eyes.
The Year of the Snake shall always mean love to me, because of Mom and Sensei, who they were for me. That holds a very special place in my heart. I have the life I love, because of them. Mom and Sensei shall always be in my heart and by my side.
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Photo: iStock
