The Will To Live
In martial arts, the first tenet is the will to survive.
For months, despite visits to the doctor and an aggressive course in antiobitics, an elderly uncle could not heal his sore throat. Further tests proved some cancerous growths inside the throat, which were promptly removed. The area required radiation. Upon further tests, more cancer was found on the outside of the throat, crushing in on it, requiring immediate attention, and removal of his larynx.
A near octogenarian, he heard the prognosis: a hole in his throat (stoma) would be his new way of breathing, the air passage to his nose would be closed off, he would lose the ability to speak, experience a long period of healing, followed by a round of painful radiation. Without a nose to act as a filter, he would be highly susceptible to every germ and bacteria. Someone’s sneeze could be deadly. His response? “Whatever it takes. I want to live.”
The First Rule of Life Club: Don’t Talk About Dying
The warrior spirit extends beyond the battlefield and the dojo. It is one of the elements always present, in all that we do. It is focusing on the moment. It is about being here. Through these challenging times in the world and in our own lives – our health, finances, and relationships may seem to spin out of our control. What we do have control of, always, is to choose survival. You may find courage in your own crises, you may also find a deep reservoir of strength as a caregiver. We have had so many of you share personal stories with us. The will to survive is a source of inspiration to us. Yes, be a member of Life Club. Say it. “I want to live” — say it again. One more time….amen!
We thank our uncle for the lesson. A toast, dear friends, to life!
Toni Josephson
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It is true that everyone wants to live. Death is taboo in every culture. There is one quote from Bruce Lee about combat which always confused me that whether he is loving the death or avoiding it in the combat:
Forget about winning and losing; forget about pride and pain. Let your opponent graze your skin and you smash into his flesh; let him smash into your flesh and you fracture his bones; let him fracture your bones and you take his life. Do not be concerned with escaping safely — lay your life before him.
As quoted in Bruce Lee : Artist of Life (1999) edited by John R. Little, p. 192