Seken wa semai yo / It’s a small world

While preparing for an upcoming class I came across the quote Seken wa semai yo, which translates roughly to: It’s a small world.

It is interesting the things you remember from youth. One that I carry with me is when, in elementary school, we had yearly musical performances, I'm sure as all children do.

There are a couple of songs I remember singing ranging from Country Roads, Take Me Home by John Denver to High Hopes (Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant) by Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn, but the one that has always carried a special memory is the Walt Disney song It's a Small World After All.

In years past I've traveled to a number of Walt Disney destinations and each time came across the same song.

The jingle always sticks in my mind...

it's a small world.
it's a small world.
it's a small world.

It's a world of laughter, a world of tears.
it's a world of hope and a world of fears.
there's so much that we share,
that it's time we're aware
it's a small world after all.

it's a small world after all
it's a small world after all
it's a small world after all
it's a small, small, small, small world.

There is just one moon, and one golden sun.
and a smile means friendship to everyone.
though the mountains be wide.
and the oceans are wide.
it's a small world after all.

it's a small world after all
it's a small world after all
it's a small world after all
it's a small, small world.

it's a small world after all
no matter if you're big or small
come on everybody let's bounce to this!
let's play some love with a little twist!

it's a small world after all
it's a small world after all
it's a small world after all
it's a small, small world.

After hearing the song I flash back from the present moment to the past when my class was singing on the stage. There are fond memories of friends I grew up with and played many games with, each has gone their separate ways, but when we cross paths, fond memories arise. It also makes me realize how fast time goes by and that time in school is a microcosm of the world we live in.

I flash back to the present moment and time seems to have stood still when I think of how fast it has been since I first started my training and study of Aikido. I smile when thoughts drift from the beautifully decorated, well appointed, and world known dojos to the tiny, unknown, “non-ventilated” training halls I’ve trained in and all the great Aikidoka and Budo practitioners I've had the privilege of meeting and training with.

All have contributed to who I am today and I realize that each of us is unique in our many ways and share our friendships and experiences with one another every time we get on the mat and train or sit and converse over a hot cup of tea or a cold beverage.

This would not have been possible had I not entered that first Aikido dojo, over twenty years ago.

Flash back again to that first class: the waning sunlight streaming through the windows, watching the small dust particles float in air. The feel of a fresh, stiff, new dogi; each movement eliciting a crackle. The sight of people swishing across the mat like they were skating; broken only by the soft slap of a hand to mat as others go rolling by.

Suddenly my nose picks up a strong, clearing scent of an overly bleached dogi offset by the welcoming smell of recently oiled trim work.

The thought and moment closes with the feel of a small bead of sweat rolling down my temple, followed by the command to line up, sit in seiza, and bow in for the class.

As the years and miles have rolled by, the true treasures are the friends I’ve made and training partners I’ve had the great privilege of working with and will always be with me, wherever I train or travel.

Gozo Shioda Kancho said during the first year of the IYAF (International Yoshinkan Aikido Federation) "My idea is that since the world has become such a small place we should move beyond thinking in terms of nationalities. The goal entrusted to this federation is to spread the harmony of the aikido spirit throughout the world. Its purpose is to create a peaceful world where it is possible to harmonize with anyone of any race. There is nothing as wonderful as the spirit of harmony and when I started this federation I thought about how we must all get along, how Americans and Soviets must become friends. I thought how the world is a single family and that we must make the world into a place filled with fine human beings."

It seems with those flash backs I’ve come full circle and the jingle is playing in my head again…

it's a small world after all
it's a small, small world.

To The One

I came across this wonderful writing by Paulo Coelho, author of many books including the The Alchemist

Such depth of writing in a tribute to a peace advocate and a guidepost to everyone on how to look at and live life.

TO THE ONE

To the one who understood her task and her purpose.
To the one who looked at the road ahead, and understood that it was a difficult journey.

To the one who did not make light of those difficulties,
but, on the contrary, made them manifest and visible.

To the one who makes the lonely feel they are not alone,
who satisfies those who hunger and thirst for justice, who makes the oppressor feel as bad as the oppressed.

To the one who always keeps her door open,
her ears listening, her hands working, her feet walking.

To the one who embodies the verses of another Persian poet,
Hafez, when he says: Not even seven thousand years of joy are worth seven days of sadness.

To the one who is here tonight, may she be one with all of us,
may her example multiply, may she still have difficult days ahead,
so that she can do whatever she needs to do,
so that the next generations will not have to strive
for what has already been accomplished.

And may she walk slowly,
because her peace is the peace of change,
and change, real change, always takes time.

Message from Paulo Coelho to honour Shirin Ebadi at the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony, Oslo, December 11th 2003.