Walking the Unavoidable Path

 

Mitsuo Aida (1924–1991), a Japanese poet and calligrapher known as the “Poet of Zen,” wrote many memorable works. Among them, my favorite is Michi (The Paths): “In your long life, there are paths you must traverse no matter how much you wish to avoid them. When this happens, you should walk these paths in silence. Don't complain or whine; just walk without saying anything. Be quiet and don't show tears in your eyes. That's the moment when the roots of your life as a human are deeply set.” When difficulties arise, I find comfort and strength in recalling these words. Repeating this poem helps me endure tough times with quiet resilience.

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