There is neither happiness nor unhappiness in this world; there is only the comparison of one state with another. Only a man who has felt ultimate despair is capable of feeling ultimate bliss. It is necessary to have wished for death in order to know how good it is to live…..the sum of all human wisdom will be contained in these two words: Wait and Hope.
- Alexandre Dumas
Hope for the moment. There are times when it is hard to believe in the future, when we are temporarily just not brave enough. When this happens, concentrate on the present. Cultivate le petit bonheur (the little happiness) until courage returns. Look forward to the beauty of the next moment, the next hour, the promise of a good meal, sleep, a book, a movie, the likelihood that tonight the stars will shine and tomorrow the sun will shine. Sink roots into the present until the strength grows to think about tomorrow.
— Ardis Whitman
Traté de encontrar más información de la autora de esta frase, pero no existe en Wikipedia! Al parecer es una autora de libros de autoayuda.
Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865). Amaterasu Emerges from the Light.
Amaterasu is the Sun Goddess in Japanese Myth. One day she became angered by the teasing of her brother, Susanowo, the God of Thunder. She went into a cave and vowed never to come out.
While in the cave, the world was in complete darkness. Other Gods pleaded with her to come out and brought magicians and others to roll back the stone she was using to block the entrance, but nothing would make her come out.
If the Goddess of the Sun kept her light hidden, everything on earth would die. Uzume decided to lure Ameratsu from the cave.
Uzume opened a barrel of sake and turned it upside down and began to play and beat upon it. Everyone began to laugh and rejoice as she danced and played on the barrel.
Filled with curiosity, Amaterasu came close to the entrance and rolled away the stone so that she could join the others in the festivities.
Thus sunlight returned to the world and it has been handed down that the drum made by Uzume was the first taiko in the world.
Kokoro (心 ~ Spirit)– play with your entire spirit engaged.
Waza (技 ~ Action)–strive for skill and technique.
Karada (体 ~ Body)–build endurance and physical strength.
Rei (礼~ Etiquette)– respect and courtesy to the teacher and all of the students; unity and harmony in the group.
