There are three things you
should know about me.
1) My circle is small.
2) I am loyal to the end.
3) Never screw me over.

I do my best to live what I teach. I didn’t just make all my teachings up out of the blue. In addition to years and years of studying wisdom literature, I had instruction from my great grandfather, my grandfather, and my father, along with my grandmother and my mother. I was raised to always help others when I can and to always do the right thing; and that is what I try to do.

As an introvert, my primary circle is very small. I have learned, both from my studies and from life experience, not to trust many people. This lesson has been driven home to me time after time, by unscrupulous people who have taken advantage of my good nature. You have to earn my trust. As such, I always keep my primary circle small, my eye open, and my weapons sharp.

However, once I have given my hand in friendship, I am loyal to the end. I always try to be the kind of friend that I would like others to be for me. I have to admit, this has gotten me in trouble more than once. As you have heard me teach many times, an enemy of my friend is my enemy, and I live my life that way. I have no problem putting a less than honorable person in their place.

The problem with that is that most people do not take their friendships as seriously as I do. While I put my neck on the line for them, I have found that most are very hesitant to reciprocate. Most people believe that if someone is not hassling them, they don’t want to get involved. That is the attitude that has allowed many things in our country to spin out of control. That’s not the way I roll, but to each his own.

When you are my friend, you have a friend who will stand against the wolves for you, and come back with a truck load of fur for your new coat! I understand that most people are not as extreme as I am when it comes to friendship, but as I said, that’s just the way I roll. To me, that is the way of the warrior. And, I have been blessed enough to find a handful of people who feel the same as I do about this. I have a very small primary circle of friends, and we do look out for each other.

The last thing that you should know about me is that you should never screw me over. I understand that everyone is different and not everyone is going to agree with my philosophy or like me, and that is perfectly fine. God gave each of us a free will to live as we please, as long as we are not hurting others. I never require anyone to agree with everything I think, say, or do; it would be scary if someone actually did.

But I do require that people do not screw me over or try to harm me or my family. If you do, the gloves are off. I have a long memory, a lot of patience, and an iron will that refuses to lose. That is a bad combination for thugs, conmen, and scumbags to deal with!

As Master Funakoshi taught, there is no first attack for the warrior. I would never mistreat someone, insult someone, or injure someone without cause, but if you attack my family, my friends, or me, it is open season, and that season is long.

When I am attacked on the street, there are no rules; I do whatever it takes to win and to come home with as little damage to my body as possible. And, when someone attacks my family or me, I have the same attitude. I will do whatever it takes to defend my family and myself. I have the skill, the will and the determination, and I will win!

John Wayne put it this way in his last movie, “I won’t be wronged. I won’t be insulted. I won’t be laid a-hand on. I don’t do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.” I know that this attitude may seem extreme to some people, but I feel it is the way of the warrior, and I live it to the best of my ability.

Furthermore, if more people lived their life in this way, I believe that our planet would be a better place to live. We now live in a world where many people believe that they should have the right to say and act any way they want, but are greatly offended when their words or actions have unpleasant consequences for them. All of your actions have consequences. If you don’t want to deal with negative consequences, don’t act like a jerk.

My circle is small for a reason. I am loyal because that is the right thing to do. And I won’t allow people to screw me over because I have respect for myself and my family. It is as simple as that. If you are a nice person, I am nice to you, period. I may not allow you into my inner circle, but I will treat you with respect and do what I can to help you.

On the other hand, if you are looking for trouble, I highly suggest you look elsewhere, because you just might bite off more than you can chew. I don’t buy into today’s bogus attitude that you have the right to do or say anything you want to me without consequences. This dog bites back!

Shihan Bohdi Sanders
author of the #1 Bestseller,
Modern Bushido: Living a Life of Excellence

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