There is Always Another Way

I lived on Oahu, Hawaii for 5 years and never once got into a fight…

If you grew up there or live there now you know what that means. Fighting is a local pastime there. The boys grow up sparring in parks and do so to keep sharp so they can back up their talk. The Hawaiian people are a warrior culture. So the outlook is live free and fight hard. Avoiding fighting and confrontation and having more communication can be hard with high egos, but I did so with what my dad always told me: “there is always another way.”

This was his answer to the question I used to ask both my parents as a child of a scenario where someone has me at gunpoint. What would you do, parent? My mother was always predictable with a violent course of action that would end with the villain covered in blood. My father took the other approach.

What my father means by there is always another way is….

There is no need for everyone to get hurt. As a child I thought, what a weak viewpoint. I am his son and he won’t hurt someone in my honor or to protect me? That’s not the point and I would only understand once some more aging occurred. The viewpoint is that if there is a way where everyone walks away from an incident unharmed that is the true win.

“An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.” – Gandhi

I now understand this point that if I am to fight that will leave me harmed as well. Even Floyd Mayweather catches a punch sometimes.

As yourself…. Is it really worth it?

Is it worth my ego to get hurt?

Is it worth the guilt of harming someone?

Is it worth the possible legal blowback? No it’s not.