What is the warrior lifestyle? The true warrior is a rare person in today’s world. He lives life with a different set of values compared with the rest of society. Even those who do share the same values, rarely live a lifestyle which adheres to those values to the extent that the warrior does. To most people, ethics are situational. They make decisions according to what is best for them, instead of what is right. This is not the case with the warrior. The warrior values honor, integrity, justice, and his sense of what is right, above all else. His ethics are not situational; they are his way of life.

The warrior lifestyle revolves around a code of ethics which is non-negotiable. The warrior’s code of ethics, or code of honor, is taken very seriously. To the warrior, distinguishing between right and wrong is of the utmost importance. He sees right and wrong in terms of black and white. He knows that an action is either honorable or dishonorable. This is not meant to imply that honor is black and white; honor is not that simple.

Those who live the lifestyle of the warrior know that whether or not an action is honorable, is determined by both one’s intentions and the situation at hand. This is not to be confused with situational ethics. The warrior’s ethics do not change according to the situation. His actions will change as needed, but his ethics remain set in stone. There is a big difference between ethics and actions. Ethics determine actions; actions do not determine ethics.

The warrior lifestyle is concerned with what is right and what is honorable. A warrior’s ethics revolve around these two issues. Justice and honor are foremost on his mind. His thoughts are centered on “what is right,” not on other people’s opinions of what is right. He realizes that many people profess a belief in absolutes which they neither live by, nor truly believe in, when push comes to shove.

The only absolute that the warrior lives by is that of what is right and wrong. If it is not right, he doesn’t do it. He determines what is right and wrong by his strict code of ethics, not some arbitrary laws or the politically correct standards of the day. The warrior doesn’t appear to be honorable; he is honorable. Sincerity is ingrained in this lifestyle. This is a lifestyle that is meant to be lived, not fantasized about or merely discussed.

This lifestyle consist of much more than being trained in the art of war or the art of self-defense, although these are an important part of the life of the warrior. It also consists of the challenge to perfect one’s character. This is a process much like the Japanese concept of kaizen. Kaizen can be translated as constant, never-ending improvement. True warriors try to apply this concept to every area of their life. They seek to balance and improve each area – spirit, mind and body, on a daily basis.

Each area of your life is important and should be kept in balance. Training men in the art of war or in the art of martial arts, without regard to character, only produces a dangerous man; it does not produce a warrior. In years past, the martial arts masters would not train someone fully until they felt assured of that person’s character. Today most schools will train anyone who can pay, regardless of their character or lack of character. This is dangerous information to give to just any and everyone who comes along. In my opinion, character should be a prerequisite, not only for martial arts training, but for many of the privileges which we enjoy in this country.

I am asked often whether or not I believe that the term “warrior” should apply only to military men and women who have been in war or to trained and experienced fighters. Although I realize this is the literal definition of a warrior, I do not believe that this is the correct definition, not according to the many accounts from past warriors anyway. This literal definition of a warrior is not the definition that is used for our discussion of the warrior lifestyle in Warrior Wisdom. An ape can be trained to throw punches and kick, a dog can be trained to fight, but that doesn’t make either of them warriors. Being a warrior involves more than being trained to fight or being in the military; it involves character training as well. Character training is the true goal of Bushido, the way of the warrior.

Please don’t misunderstand me; I have great respect for our military men and women. But I believe that anyone who has ever served in the military will agree that not every soldier lives by the character traits which are necessary for the warrior lifestyle, anymore than every martial artist or every person in general lives by these standards. I’m not taking anything away from those who serve our country. Every person who serves our country deserves our respect and gratitude, but service doesn’t necessarily indicate that a person is concerned with perfecting his or her character. It is rare to find people who take their ethics seriously today. It is common to find people who claim to take their ethics seriously, but I am referring to people who walk to the walk, not just “talk the talk.”

Yes, the warrior is concerned with physical training and the martial arts, but he also knows that character training is the cornerstone of the warrior lifestyle. The true warrior should be trained in martial arts. His ethics require that he be ready to defend his family, friends, or himself in certain situations. In today’s world, you never know when you may have to use your martial arts skills. It is essential that you have this training to be as self-reliant and as safe as possible, but without a code of ethics, which is based on a deep understanding of right and wrong, there is no warrior; there is only someone trained to fight. There is a difference. Without the character traits of honor, integrity and justice, there is no warrior lifestyle.

In short, the warrior lifestyle is for anyone who want to live a life of excellence; a life which adheres to a strict code of ethics. You must be willing to live your life based on honor, preparedness and what is right. This lifestyle requires that you put your ethics before your comfort, and that you put what is right before what is profitable. It requires filial duty, dedication to family and friends, and a willingness to help those in need. It requires independence in thought and action. This lifestyle is a decision, not a profession.

This is just a brief introduction to the lifestyle of the warrior. Each of these points can be greatly expanded and I understand that not everyone will agree with my assessment. Even if you disagree with my definition of a warrior or the characteristics of the warrior lifestyle, you will still find the wisdom in this book to be very useful. Warrior Wisdom seeks to provide the reader with wisdom from throughout the ages that will help him live the warrior lifestyle. This lifestyle is not a goal to be achieved, but rather a road to be traveled. May you travel this road with honor.

“Take a deep breath of life and consider how it should be lived.” Don Quixote’s Creed

Want to spend you holidays in Europe this time? Looking for a blissful and great holiday trip? For a successful trip planning is the most important and basic step. It is very important to plan you trip beforehand. To plan your trips in an effective and efficient manner collate as much information as possible about your holiday destination.

Books and maps are the most reliable source of information that one can depend on. Europe Travel Planning books and guides are also available in the market that helps you in accessing important information. With the help of maps and route planners you can navigate through places while being on trip without having the fear of being lost. Remember the festive season is the best time to explore a country its rich culture so plan accordingly.

You can easily locate different places with the help of guides. Routes to various places, to stay and eat, tourist spots, shopping centers etc. are listed in a guide book. You can also find information about communication modes and those used for traveling purposes like exploring the sites by riding bicycle, walking, taxi, boating or boarding trains. For sighting seeing a map is the best guide. You can know about the lifestyle of people, food habits, dialect and culture conveniently through informative books. These help you to understand taste of people and tradition in a better way.

Carry lesser personal belongings with you when planning a trip. You can take help of an itinerary and get one planned for you. You can plan your itinerary according to your convenience and choice. You have full freedom to choose the places that interest you and you wish to visit in Europe. Accordingly then you can get an itinerary for yourself that will help you throughout your trip.

Online gives you a better and wider coverage of information over the books. Anywhere, anyplace at anytime you can access the desired information. Online medium is less expensive and user friendly.

If you are looking forward to a great trip to Europe that can be relished lifetime then travel planning is must. So, get started because right ahead is waiting a great holiday!

With convergence of information and communication technologies where the mobile phone, the computer, and the internet have become inseparable, more and more doors are being opened in all sectors. In the education sector, the internet has provided a new way where students and lecturers can perform their respective duties without necessarily being physically close. This is what is known as online education where both student and instructor meet online. But is online education important? Here are a few reasons why students should choose online education to advance their careers and get that most desired qualification and certificate.

Wide Range of Choices

It is only in online education where you can choose from a wide range of schools without being limited by physical distance or boundaries. You are able to choose education programs some of which cannot be available in your area. Some students are forced to take majors in courses that they would not have otherwise liked because their colleges do not offer what they would have liked. In other instances, some students live in rural areas far away from colleges of choice. With online education, you are able to take the major that you want and attend college of your choice without major relocations.

Remember that you need not go for expensive programs. This is because you are given an opportunity to choose what suits your budget. Additionally, online programs are generally cheaper when compared to the traditional class-based programs.

Flexibility

Online education offers flexibility that allows both the student and the instructor to meet when time or schedule allows best for them. Whether you are a busy working-cum-schooling individual that does not have time for classes during the day, you are easily accommodated in an online education program. Additionally in the global village, there are differences in time because we are not all in the same time zone. Taking an online education program that suits your schedule is made possible by the differences in time.

It is good to realize that students do not necessarily learn at the same pace. Some feel that the instructions are too fast and overwhelming while others feel that some students are dragging them behind. With online education, there is flexibility in pace and time. You can choose an online program that will suit your pace.

Online Education Offers Excellent Networking Opportunities

Unlike what many would want to believe, online education offers some of the best opportunities to meet with people from around the world. Sharing an online class will make you get important contacts and academic references some of which will help you in your future career. In order to understand this better, one only needs to look at how many friends and followers that one has gathered through online platforms. Online schools are no different.

Online education does not require commuting; it can be done while still working normal hours and it is very effective.