Where would YOU stop?

How do one get good at something?

First you must begin doing whatever you want to be good at. Nothing will happen if there is no beginning. You begin as an amatuer, not really knowing that what you are doing is right or wrong. If you are lucky, you could come across a trainer or a guide, someone who is better at that particular field so that you could learn to take the right path from that person.

Mistakes are often made. There would be no progress whatsoever if there are no mistakes at all. This is because people learn from making mistakes, and through them, comes an experience which can be reflected upon and which can be studied thoroughly so that you will not make more mistakes in the future. Would you stop if you notice that too many mistakes are made, and you feel that you are not made for this?

What happens when you get better at it? That is a sign of improvement. You are able to perform with little or no mistakes at all. What you do deserves accolades and even recognition by the people around you. You feel wanted and accepted and special. You then perfect what you are doing. Take it to a higher level, and compete. In a competition, you will feel the urge to defeat. You will work harder, train harder and push your limits to remove your opponent from the competition. You will get better than him. Would you stop when you win the world championships?

You are now near perfect, if not the best in your field. There is few who could actually stand up to your skills. Everything is for you to take. What else is left? The remainders. You seek out those who could and would stand in your way and show them whos boss. You beat the crap out of rivals, mock your friends and even dare bring it on with your own teacher. You show them defeat. You now OWN the world. No one is first if you are second. The world knows you and bows to you because you are indeed, the best. Would you stop now, knowing that you have everything?

Everything that has a beginning must have an ending. Your skills, power and influence would eventually end. So you decide to take a disciple and train him with the best of your abilities. He will be the one person who will succeed you, and continue to spread your name and influence when you are gone. You train him to such a great level that you are not afraid anyone would beat him, just like will ever defeat you. He represents you. Would you stop and let it all rest?

Teaching is an experience which is taken as a whole. The disciple not only learns the essence of the art, but also other things, such as character and attitude and even the mentality. Because you have not stopped, the greed that you show has unconsciously been passed on to your disciple. He is now younger and far more powerful compared to you. And we all know what is about to happen, so I'll skip the details. Use your imaginations. You land on the ground, clinging to your one last breath, with him laughing above you. All your hopes and dreams has come to a bitter end, not one that you have expected all along. Now, it is he who will take over.


Moral : Greed, of course, is one of the 7 deadly sins. If you have stopped somewhere before, the pain would not be as great. Twice the pride, double the fall. Stopping would not mean that you have given up, but instead it shows that you realize that things do end, and that it would be better to end it nice.

Wise words : Darn. This is in malay. Setinggi-tinggi tupai melompat, akhirnya jatuh ke tanah juga.



Game Over, baby.


/Skeith, been a greedy boy.