If you have Netflix and even a slight love of food, you owe it to yourself to check out the Netflix original mini-series Samurai Gourmet. The show follows a newly-retired 60-year-old man as he explores the various bars and restaurants around him with new eyes.
At first blush, the show looks like it’s about food. I mean, it’s called Samurai Gourmet, after all. When you get beneath the surface a bit though, you realize that there’s way more going on here than you first realize. Here are three lessons from the show that go beyond food. (more…)
I don’t know exactly what it is, but there’s something about open water that speaks to me lately. It never used to be the case; I wasn’t a fan when I was younger. In fact, even though I’m a decent swimmer, drowning is one of my biggest fears. Still, I can’t escape or deny the feeling of serenity that water evokes in me these days. (more…)
The other day, my wife and I were out for date night. There was a new café open in town, and we thought we’d check it out. We ended up hitting two different places that night, and this story is about the dramatic difference in the customer experience between when a place gets the little details right, and when they get them wrong.
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Sometimes it’s hard to know when the grief of losing a loved one will flare up – it might be the most unassuming thing that reminds you of your loss. Maybe it’s a meal that tastes like the one they used to make. Maybe it’s a flower that used to be planted in their gardens, or a path you used to walk together. (more…)
There once was a samurai who was renowned for his swordsmanship. He had fought countless battles and defeated hundreds of opponents on the battlefield. So when he heard that the emperor was holding an exhibition whereby a few selected warriors would be invited to demonstrate their skill, he began looking forward to the invitation. When it finally came, he read it with eager anticipation. (more…)
This is a guest post by my close friend and fellow martial artist James Paradis. James is a Shodan (first-degree black belt) in Goju-Ryu Karate-do, and is also an accomplished student of Modern Arnis, which is a form of Filipino stick and knife fighting. Going forward, I will occasionally feature guest posts by people I know have something valuable to offer readers of this blog. (more…)
