Comments on: Do it or quit complaining http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2010/05/02/do-it-or-quit-complaining/ My life as a father, Buddhist and Japanophile. Sat, 11 Jun 2011 01:53:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Jonathan http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2010/05/02/do-it-or-quit-complaining/#comment-4076 Jonathan Sun, 02 May 2010 13:58:17 +0000 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/?p=7646#comment-4076 Great posting (and comments too). Great posting (and comments too).

]]> By: arunlikhati http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2010/05/02/do-it-or-quit-complaining/#comment-4075 arunlikhati Sun, 02 May 2010 13:28:50 +0000 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/?p=7646#comment-4075 This reminds me of an expression in my family’s language that (roughly) translates along the lines of, “What you really want is what you actually do.” It has a slightly different force than the daimyo’s thoughts, but it points to a fundamental quality of our human nature, that we tend to prefer the status quo, even while we complain that we’d rather things be otherwise (ourselves included). Lots of people say that they wish they could learn another language. But how many people want it enough to change their lives to do so? This reminds me of an expression in my family’s language that (roughly) translates along the lines of, “What you really want is what you actually do.” It has a slightly different force than the daimyo’s thoughts, but it points to a fundamental quality of our human nature, that we tend to prefer the status quo, even while we complain that we’d rather things be otherwise (ourselves included). Lots of people say that they wish they could learn another language. But how many people want it enough to change their lives to do so?

]]> By: Robert http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2010/05/02/do-it-or-quit-complaining/#comment-4074 Robert Sun, 02 May 2010 09:41:48 +0000 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/?p=7646#comment-4074 It reminds me of <del>Fozzy Bear</del> Yoda. "Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try." mmm, While not trying is the surest way to fail, success is by no means guaranteed just by trying. You have to have some awareness of your talents, limitations and the scope of the task. I mean where are you going to put all that water from the ocean and just how many lifetimes do you have to spare and what exactly will you have achieved? (and yet small drops of water wear down mountains, eventually) Maybe you also have to realistically measure for yourself what success is. But success isn't everything, the journey itself changes you and is an achievement. Interesting post, thanks. (I too am not great in allocating time and energy to areas of my life) It reminds me of Fozzy Bear Yoda. “Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try.”

mmm, While not trying is the surest way to fail, success is by no means guaranteed just by trying. You have to have some awareness of your talents, limitations and the scope of the task. I mean where are you going to put all that water from the ocean and just how many lifetimes do you have to spare and what exactly will you have achieved?
(and yet small drops of water wear down mountains, eventually)

Maybe you also have to realistically measure for yourself what success is.
But success isn’t everything, the journey itself changes you and is an achievement.

Interesting post, thanks. (I too am not great in allocating time and energy to areas of my life)

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