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If someone is slipping up, kindly correct them and point out what they missed. But if you can’t, blame yourself - or no one.”
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 10.4
Another lifetime ago, back when I was teaching martial arts, I used to watch my students grow and develop not only as fighters, but as good humans, in service to their fellow people. When they’d experience successes, I’d think of the times I shared bits of wisdom with them, and how those moments could have influenced their good decisions. Conversely, when they’d fail, or lose, or make bad decisions, I’d take their failures into myself, as I know I could have made a difference. I had the teacher-perspective, a blessing in teacher/student relationships. In a fashion, as I was their teacher, their failures were mine. The blame for their failures was on me.
Some of my readers might believe this is not a “Moderate” perspective when it comes to the failures of others, and that my perspective might be a bit extreme, filled with the egoic self-flagellation of taking blame for the failures of others. I can hear my ancient Roman ancestors now, uttering with much pomp and circumstance: “Non tua culpa, mea culpa factum est.” (It’s not your fault, for it’s my fault) Well, good moderate readers, let me assure you that if some who are responsible for imparting teachings didn’t take this kind of view, we’d never have the kinds of teachers who live in the “above and beyond” space, and truly help shape human beings into excellence generators.
Teachers, in my opinion, are not just human beings who transfer data (meaningless or otherwise) to empty storage devices. Teachers can be virtue models, shoulders to cry on, safe folx to explore failures, and wise guides to help capitalize on future successes… in all things.
In a sense, throughout much of our lives, we are our own teachers, so for failures we have to take responsibility just as a wise teacher would for their students failures.
Now… what if we took this “mea culpa” attitude in all things? What would forgiveness look like when everyone is taking responsibility for the failures? Would there be more understanding? More grace? How could WE change the world when we care for one another, and realize we are one another’s keeper… at least as far as keeping a bit of kindness for one another.
May this Thanksgiving Day, and all days be filled with myriad opportunities to practice acceptance, grace, patience, kindness, and understanding. After all, it's on YOU.
(See y’all tomorrow)
Some of my readers might believe this is not a “Moderate” perspective when it comes to the failures of others, and that my perspective might be a bit extreme, filled with the egoic self-flagellation of taking blame for the failures of others. I can hear my ancient Roman ancestors now, uttering with much pomp and circumstance: “Non tua culpa, mea culpa factum est.” (It’s not your fault, for it’s my fault) Well, good moderate readers, let me assure you that if some who are responsible for imparting teachings didn’t take this kind of view, we’d never have the kinds of teachers who live in the “above and beyond” space, and truly help shape human beings into excellence generators.
Teachers, in my opinion, are not just human beings who transfer data (meaningless or otherwise) to empty storage devices. Teachers can be virtue models, shoulders to cry on, safe folx to explore failures, and wise guides to help capitalize on future successes… in all things.
In a sense, throughout much of our lives, we are our own teachers, so for failures we have to take responsibility just as a wise teacher would for their students failures.
Now… what if we took this “mea culpa” attitude in all things? What would forgiveness look like when everyone is taking responsibility for the failures? Would there be more understanding? More grace? How could WE change the world when we care for one another, and realize we are one another’s keeper… at least as far as keeping a bit of kindness for one another.
May this Thanksgiving Day, and all days be filled with myriad opportunities to practice acceptance, grace, patience, kindness, and understanding. After all, it's on YOU.
(See y’all tomorrow)
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