28 Feb Words are not blown away by the wind… but rather create realities (MARIO ALONSO PUIG)
Once upon a time there was a samurai who was very dexterous with the sword and at the same time, haughty and arrogant. In some way, he only felt important when he killed an adversary in combat and, for this reason, he was always looking for occasions to challenge someone for the most trivial reason. It was in this way that the samurai held onto his idea, his concept of himself, his ironclad identity.
On one occasion, this man arrived at a village and saw that a crowd of people were all going towards a particular place. The samurai halted one of them and asked him, “Where are you all going in such a hurry?” “Noble warrior,” answered the man, who probably feared for his life, “we’re going to listen to Master Wei. ”
“Who is this man Wei?”
“How is it possible that you don’t know him if Master Wei is known throughout the region?”
The samurai was made to feel stupid by this villager and he noticed the respect that the man felt towards this so-called Master Wei and that he didn’t feel for a samurai like himself. He then decided that this day his fame would outdo Wei’s and so he followed the crowd until they arrived at a huge ranch where Master Wei was imparting his knowledge.
Master Wei was a short, elderly man for whom the samurai immediately felt great contempt and barely-disguised wrath.
Wei began to speak:
“There are many powerful weapons used by man in this life, but for me, the most powerful of all is the word.”
When the samurai heard that he just couldn’t contain himself and he exclaimed in midst of the multitude: “Only a stupid old man like you can make such a comment.”
He then took out his sword and wielding it about in the air, continued, “Yes, this is a powerful weapon and not your stupid words.”
Then Wei, looking him in the eyes, answered, “It makes sense that someone like you would have made such a comment; it’s easy to see you are nothing more than a bastard, an ignorant brute, a being without any intelligence and a son of a bitch. ”
When the samurai heard these words, his face reddened and with his body tensed and his mind outraged he moved towards the place where Wei was.
“Old man, take leave of your life because today it ends. ” Then, all of a sudden, Wei began to apologize.
“Forgive me, great man. I am just an old, tired man. Someone who, due to his age, can have the most serious slips of the tongue. Will you be able to forgive this fool, who in his madness has injured you so, with your noble warrior heart?”
The samurai stopped short and answered, “Naturally, noble Master Wei. I accept your excuses. ”
In that moment Wei looked him straight in the eyes and told him, “My friend, tell me now: are words powerful or not?”
Words are not blown away by the wind but rather create realities. Search for words that help and do not nullify. Perhaps you ‘ll be surprised by what begins to happen.
Reinventing Yourself
Mario Alonso Puig
