I woke up today with to a feeling I have not had in a long time. Almost every single muscle was sore. Hell, some of them are still sore, but I’m not complaining. Actually, I’m quite elated. Yesterday was one of the most fun days I have had in Israel thus far. Now that may seem disingenuous and downright disrespectful to some. I mean, what is better than a large thanksgiving dinner, or going to the movies with family, or quiet shabbat with a close group of friends? While it is hard (in fact I’ll refuse) to put these major sources of joy, yesterday’s trip to Hod HaSharon certainly ranks up with the most significant days since I’ve started my master’s degree. What could be so important that I have been overjoyed all day about?
First a little back-story to wet your appetite: about two years back I came to Israel for the first time ever. I was a scared college graduate embarking on a Masa journey in a land I didn’t know, a language I couldn’t speak and quite frankly no idea what was going on. The first day alone was an adventure at the airport and making my way to the base of operations in Hod HaSharon, but it was there that I spent five amazing months with the Budokan Israel program. This past weekend, on Sunday, I went back to Hod HaSharon and met the newest group of Budoka and my instructors. I participated in a Judo class in the morning and a Karate lesson at night. In both classes it was only the basics; however, as every sensei has said, everyone always needs work on basics. Having not trained in the last two or three months, training was such a re-energizing experience. Now I just need to direct that energy back into my studies.
In addition to amazing trainings I had a lot of time with both the group and my instructors. It was very good to speak with them again. And this came after a wonderful Saturday evening where I visited friends for a small friendly gathering. Surprisingly, school projects and ideas barely surfaced. International law and conflicts stayed at the door for the most part, aside from the interactions in my head of the theories of adaptation and learning as compared to the theory of intractability in modern conflicts. It is a problem that grips not only Israel, but also Northern Ireland, which many people seem to forget. I look forward to going back to Northern Ireland and re-examining my first impressions after this degree.
Those are the major distinctions between the last week and other weeks preceding it; however, I had a moment of reflection today. I live perhaps a thirty minute walk from campus. I came to school and set up to do work, as I do every morning before classes. On the one hand, that was very fortuitous because I realized as I set up that I had forgotten my notebook for class. Now, looking back, I suppose I could have borrowed paper or ripped it from another book and pasted or copied it at a later time, but earlier the only option to cross my mind was to go home and come back before class. Thankfully I had about two hours until class; however, I was instantly incited to irritation at forgetting my notebook and the prospective loss of an hour of time. And trust me, hours are quite valuable.
On the way home I did make use of the extra trip, stopping at the grocery store to do my shopping for the week and cooked a small lunch to replace my sandwiches for the day. But while a shelf cloud grew over my head, my mind thought of opportunities squandered in the long walk, and all the Arabic letters I could be writing; however, a beacon flashed amongst the troubling thoughts and like the sun evaporates the clouds, my mind settled at ease. I simply thought to myself, that if the only thing I have to complain about in a day is that I spent an extra hour walking, than I really have nothing to complain about. Instead it was truly a wonderful day, and perhaps I needed that walk to remind me of the simple (albeit clichéd) phrase, ‘don’t sweat the small stuff.’ I bet my father would have said the same thing if he knew that even for a moment I let a small mistake bother me. Benjamin Franklin had a similar maxim, “Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.” And I have to say, here in Israel, it’s always sunny. All you have to do is look outside. I hope that I may save you a short walk, and that you remember to stay positive. As I wrote earlier, both joy and sorrow are contagious, so embrace joy less you spread your discontent.
Your Traveler and Student.
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