Lengthen your own line (Atkins and Zen)

ab1ht · 06-30-2008, 08:44 AM

Sometime I sit back and browse the topics on this board. Sometimes I even put my two cents in.

Many topics have to do with jealousy, judgment, and how we compare ourselves to others (or vise verse). I thought it might be helpful to share a little perspective. I'm not nearly so wise, so I'll paraphrase a parable from a book called "Zen and the Martial Arts" by Joe Hyams:

-------------------------

At the end of a class that Bruce Lee was teaching, he noticed that one of his students was a bit down. Bruce asked the student what was the matter.

"My sparring is terrible. No matter what kinds of tricks or fancy moves I use, I just can't land any hits."

Bruce took a piece of chalk and drew a line on the ground. He handed the student the chalk and said, "Make my line shorter without touching it."

The student thought for a while, but every solution he could think of required cutting the line or touching it in some way.

Bruce took the chalk back and drew a longer line next to the first line.

"Now how does the first line look?" Bruce asked.

"Shorter," said the student.

--------------------------------------------------

Moral (at least one of them): Instead of trying to win a debate about the merits of your WOE, try to focus on improving and refining your own health by understanding yourself and your WOE to a much deeper level.

The conflict and bickering will only drain your own soul. Let them do their own thing. Focus on doing yours better. Not better than them, but better than you did yesterday.

Lengthen your own line instead of trying to cut someone else's. That is the most efficient way to becoming a better human being.

Hope this wasn't too boring or preachy.

-Paul

luckylychee · 06-30-2008, 08:48 AM

i love it!

cleochatra · 06-30-2008, 08:50 AM

You are the man. I

Bruce Lee.

Zer · 06-30-2008, 08:50 AM

Excellent lesson, even for those of us who are competing with ourself and not quite measuring up to the goals we envision as within our reach. Struggles are all energy-stealing, if one gets down on one's ability to excell. Good idea to focus on finding better solutions. I like the idea of drawing a longer chalk line!

CrzyCatLady · 06-30-2008, 08:52 AM

Thanks for that!

It was a great post!

magic maker · 06-30-2008, 09:27 AM

I love that. And you're cute.

Aprilia · 06-30-2008, 10:10 AM

That's fantastic! I think in the end, you have to do this for yourself or your chances for long term success diminish significantly.

ab1ht · 06-30-2008, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cleochatra

You are the man. I

Bruce Lee.

Yeah, he was pretty amazing. Cool movies, too. Even the corny ones.

Quote:

Originally Posted by magic maker

I love that. And you're cute.

Thanks. Where were you when I was single?

BTW, where in SC are you? I lived in Columbia for a year. I loved it, but the wife was dying from the heat.

-Paul

lowcarblulu · 06-30-2008, 11:41 AM

AWESOME! Thanks for adding this perspective to the boards. This is advice we all should follow.

WendyK1974 · 06-30-2008, 11:45 AM

Excellent! And so true!

painted_klown · 06-30-2008, 12:14 PM

Thanks for that post Paul.

Sometimes it's easy to get caught up the the "struggle" of it all. It's good to see another perspective from time to time.....helps keep ME sane anyway!

YellowRoseTX · 06-30-2008, 12:21 PM

Paul, thanks for posting this.

magic maker · 06-30-2008, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ab1ht

Yeah, he was pretty amazing. Cool movies, too. Even the corny ones.

Thanks. Where were you when I was single?

BTW, where in SC are you? I lived in Columbia for a year. I loved it, but the wife was dying from the heat.

-Paul

I'm in Aiken, about an hour from Columbia. My husband's from Columbia. I'm Southern born and bred, so I thrive in the heat!

BufoDieter · 06-30-2008, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ab1ht

Sometime I sit back and browse the topics on this board. Sometimes I even put my two cents in.

Many topics have to do with jealousy, judgment, and how we compare ourselves to others (or vise verse). I thought it might be helpful to share a little perspective. I'm not nearly so wise, so I'll paraphrase a parable from a book called "Zen and the Martial Arts" by Joe Hyams:

-------------------------

At the end of a class that Bruce Lee was teaching, he noticed that one of his students was a bit down. Bruce asked the student what was the matter.

"My sparring is terrible. No matter what kinds of tricks or fancy moves I use, I just can't land any hits."

Bruce took a piece of chalk and drew a line on the ground. He handed the student the chalk and said, "Make my line shorter without touching it."

The student thought for a while, but every solution he could think of required cutting the line or touching it in some way.

Bruce took the chalk back and drew a longer line next to the first line.

"Now how does the first line look?" Bruce asked.

"Shorter," said the student.

--------------------------------------------------

Moral (at least one of them): Instead of trying to win a debate about the merits of your WOE, try to focus on improving and refining your own health by understanding yourself and your WOE to a much deeper level.

The conflict and bickering will only drain your own soul. Let them do their own thing. Focus on doing yours better. Not better than them, but better than you did yesterday.

Lengthen your own line instead of trying to cut someone else's. That is the most efficient way to becoming a better human being.

Hope this wasn't too boring or preachy.

-Paul

Great statement... I'm logging it so I will always remember.

NewYorkGiants32 · 06-30-2008, 12:48 PM

Great post!

Maggy · 06-30-2008, 12:49 PM

Definately not "boring or preachy" but definately one for my refigerator door!!
Thanks for the perspective!!!!!!

LOVED IT!!!!

sazzie · 06-30-2008, 03:12 PM

Post worth reading; thank you!!

AuntieWie · 07-01-2008, 10:39 PM

Very well put. Thanks.

hummingbird11 · 07-02-2008, 01:26 AM

Touche. thanks for posting!

Katie914 · 07-02-2008, 01:45 AM

Excellent read. Thank you!

Rory8343 · 07-02-2008, 05:33 AM

06-30-2008, 08:44 AM	#1
ab1ht Senior LCF Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Westborough, MA (USA) Posts: 646 Gallery: ab1ht Stats: 160+/149/143 WOE: Still working out the kinks. Start Date: December 2007	Lengthen your own line (Atkins and Zen) Sometime I sit back and browse the topics on this board. Sometimes I even put my two cents in. Many topics have to do with jealousy, judgment, and how we compare ourselves to others (or vise verse). I thought it might be helpful to share a little perspective. I'm not nearly so wise, so I'll paraphrase a parable from a book called "Zen and the Martial Arts" by Joe Hyams: ------------------------- At the end of a class that Bruce Lee was teaching, he noticed that one of his students was a bit down. Bruce asked the student what was the matter. "My sparring is terrible. No matter what kinds of tricks or fancy moves I use, I just can't land any hits." Bruce took a piece of chalk and drew a line on the ground. He handed the student the chalk and said, "Make my line shorter without touching it." The student thought for a while, but every solution he could think of required cutting the line or touching it in some way. Bruce took the chalk back and drew a longer line next to the first line. "Now how does the first line look?" Bruce asked. "Shorter," said the student. -------------------------------------------------- Moral (at least one of them): Instead of trying to win a debate about the merits of your WOE, try to focus on improving and refining your own health by understanding yourself and your WOE to a much deeper level. The conflict and bickering will only drain your own soul. Let them do their own thing. Focus on doing yours better. Not better than them, but better than you did yesterday. Lengthen your own line instead of trying to cut someone else's. That is the most efficient way to becoming a better human being. Hope this wasn't too boring or preachy. -Paul __________________ Paul

07-02-2008, 05:33 AM	#21
Rory8343 Blabbermouth!!! Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 7,475 Blog Entries: 12 Gallery: Rory8343 Stats: 20W/16M/8 WOE: Atkins is the Man! Start Date: January 2003 Start again November 2007	Yep.

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06-30-2008, 08:48 AM	#2
luckylychee Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Luxembourg! Posts: 4,721 Gallery: luckylychee Stats: 89 kilos/76.2 kilos/61.2 kilos WOE: Low carb, BRING ON THE FAT Start Date: March 10, 2007	i love it!

06-30-2008, 08:50 AM	#3
cleochatra Big Yapper!!!! Join Date: May 2005 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 7,885 Gallery: cleochatra Stats: 350/264/125 WOE: Atkins Start Date: January 1, 2008	You are the man. I Bruce Lee.

06-30-2008, 08:50 AM	#4
Zer Blabbermouth!!! Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: SoCal (Orange County) Posts: 7,237 Blog Entries: 42 Gallery: Zer Stats: 5'10"; 64; 508.7/377/199 WOE: Atkins: <5%Carb; BMR:2423cals; 182gProt; 128ozH2O Start Date: 432.4(2/8) 413.2(4/8) 402.2(6/8) 387.8(10/12)	Excellent lesson, even for those of us who are competing with ourself and not quite measuring up to the goals we envision as within our reach. Struggles are all energy-stealing, if one gets down on one's ability to excell. Good idea to focus on finding better solutions. I like the idea of drawing a longer chalk line!

06-30-2008, 08:52 AM	#5
CrzyCatLady Senior LCF Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bardstown KY Posts: 991 Blog Entries: 4 Gallery: CrzyCatLady Stats: 244/183/134 WOE: Atkins Start Date: 10/29/07	Thanks for that! It was a great post!

06-30-2008, 09:27 AM	#6
magic maker Senior LCF Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 120 Gallery: magic maker Stats: 158/139/130 WOE: Atkins Start Date: April 2008	I love that. And you're cute.

06-30-2008, 10:10 AM	#7
Aprilia MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Jackson, WY Posts: 1,921 Gallery: Aprilia Stats: 229/183/125 WOE: LC Start Date: 1/7/2008	That's fantastic! I think in the end, you have to do this for yourself or your chances for long term success diminish significantly.

06-30-2008, 11:41 AM	#9
lowcarblulu Senior LCF Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 294 Gallery: lowcarblulu WOE: Protein Power Start Date: this time: October 2007	AWESOME! Thanks for adding this perspective to the boards. This is advice we all should follow.

06-30-2008, 11:45 AM	#10
WendyK1974 MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,076 Gallery: WendyK1974	Excellent! And so true!

06-30-2008, 12:14 PM	#11
painted_klown Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Centerville, IA Posts: 288 Gallery: painted_klown Stats: 342/288/250 WOE: Atkins Start Date: May 07, 2008	Thanks for that post Paul. Sometimes it's easy to get caught up the the "struggle" of it all. It's good to see another perspective from time to time.....helps keep ME sane anyway!

06-30-2008, 12:21 PM	#12
YellowRoseTX Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Central TX Posts: 249 Gallery: YellowRoseTX Stats: (277)263.4/261.5/190mini/160longterm 5'8" WOE: Barry Groves - NHWL Start Date: BG 18 July 2008	Paul, thanks for posting this.

06-30-2008, 12:48 PM	#15
NewYorkGiants32 MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Wa State Posts: 1,986 Gallery: NewYorkGiants32 Stats: 197/188.0/150 WOE: ATKINS! (Ish) Start Date: July 28th 2008	Great post!

06-30-2008, 12:49 PM	#16
Maggy MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,463 Gallery: Maggy Stats: 158/123/125 height 5'5 WOE: Atkins Start Date: 3/05	Definately not "boring or preachy" but definately one for my refigerator door!! Thanks for the perspective!!!!!! LOVED IT!!!!

06-30-2008, 03:12 PM	#17
sazzie MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Florida Posts: 2,221 Gallery: sazzie Stats: 162/148/140? WOE: low carb	Post worth reading; thank you!!

07-01-2008, 10:39 PM	#18
AuntieWie Junior LCF Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bottom right corner of California Posts: 11 Gallery: AuntieWie Stats: 176/???/110 @5ft even WOE: Atkinsish	Very well put. Thanks.

07-02-2008, 01:26 AM	#19
hummingbird11 Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Texan w/ Hawaiian Soul living in California Posts: 4,971 Gallery: hummingbird11 Stats: 175/155/145 ~ 5'8" ~ 45 yo WOE: Organic Controlled Carb; Exercise; Water; No Sugar Start Date: 3/24/08 & Every Day!	Touche. thanks for posting!

07-02-2008, 01:45 AM	#20
Katie914 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 533 Gallery: Katie914 Stats: 155/135 WOE: Stillman's QWL Start Date: 08/31/08	Excellent read. Thank you!