Got to the office this morning and was greeted by two serendipitous items.

The first was a song being played on the web-stream that we link to  at the office titled 'Coffee Monkey' with such lines as "I can't get enough of that coffee in my bowels", and "I like it black, black, black".

The site has a discussion board where listeners can post comments or pictures and someone posted a picture of a poster that said, "Coffee - is the planet shaking or is it just me?"

The second item was a newsletter that came in the mail.  In my profession outside the dojo I receive more paper across my desk than I can tell you but this one had one of those 'Comments & Daily Thoughts' sections that caught my eye and while reading it and listening to 'Coffee Monkey' I realized that the two fit together so here's the idea this morning.

When life is running you hard like a buck running a doe after the first freeze of winter, don't let it "shake your planet", or "shake you".

Step back and take 10 deep breaths Zen-style whether it be at the office, at the dojo, or most especially at home with the family, and then consider this for a moment before stepping off into it;

"Count Your Words Carefully"

The 6 most important words:  "I admit that I was wrong."

The 5 most important words:  "You did a great job."

The 4 most important words:  "What do you think?"

The 3 most important words:  "May I help?"

The 2 most important words:  "Thank you."

The 1 most important word:  "We."

The least important word:  "I"

(Source:  A Short Course In Human Relations, by F. C. Minaker)

It just struck me as an exceedingly positive way in which to approach our relations with friends, family and co-workers, and of course Aikido players; another form of humility on the mat, as-it-were.  Now I may have to go buy the book and read what else he has to say.

Originally Published September 20th, 2008