quelsen

Captains Log
Stardate 05260.0808

In my morning commute i have started the Book of Five Rings. I am immediately struck by something. Discipline =/= Success.

In my life i have equated following "the rules" to the way of success. I have invested time and energy questioning why i was not successful in the way i expected and my lament was always "I am doing it right, why am I failing"

Success and discipline do not go hand in hand. If we were playing a D20 system Discipline would be a modifier on a Success roll to be certain, however rolling 20 on Discipline doesnt give you an automatic Success Feat.

I would have preferred to have realized this years ago, however Wisdom is an atribute that grows with level ( to carry my metaphor ) it isnt a given at birth.

Solomon told me this years ago however I could not hear it then

I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn't always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn't always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don't always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time. - Ecclesiastes 9:11

I truly thought that by just hunkering down and focusing on being the best person i knew how to be for the longest time I could somehow defeat this natural law.

Epic Fail.

Discipline is important in life, It is what gives self respect. Success is nice to have in life, but basing your self respect on Success is like trying to breath water, if you have the right water and the right circumstances it is possible, but there is a 99% chance you will die first.

I will continue to walk the path of discipline, I will also reevaluate my vision of and relationship to success.