What's your muse?

Lately, becuase of language training out here in Monterey, my schedule has been shall we say...a bit full :) Making it to jits once a week and training karate twice a week on top of going to the gym every morning is about all I can muster with close to 3 hours of homework every night. However, one thing I always, and I mean always, make time for is reading for enrichment and knowledge. Thats my muse. Thats the thing I do just for me. I train not only becuase I want to, but in truth, its needed for my job. Truly, reading is just for me. Its not fiction novels that I read either, its crazy things like biographies on leaders, historical writings like "the art of war", "the book of five rings" or "the spartans".

Whats the point of this post? Its just a question you should ask yourself. Outside of what you train, work or "do", what is your muse? What is it that you do that fulfills the creative and curious side of your soul? To develope the warrior soul shouldn't you be training your mind and soul ALONG with your body? It really doesn't matter what it is that you do for enrichment - trust me. Play music, sing, write, paint, read, cook, create...whatever! But if you're not doing something for your spirit outside of the martial things you do than I think you're cheating yourself out of true fulfillment. The most amazing teachers that I've ever had in my life were not just great becuase they were talented on the mat or in the ring, it was also becuase they had something in their personality that was creative off the mat.

I guess I don't know how to explain it well yet. That just means the journey continues for me :) I do know; however, that if all you do is eat, sleep and think about martial disciplines there is a giant whole in your soul that will cause you to burn out. Fill it with an appriopriate healthy muse. I promise that you'll love the results.