What Is Your Life Worth? by Rob Jacob
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If you were lying in a hospital bed knowing that you are going to die soon,
what would you give to live? Would you pay $100? $1000? Trade your new car?
Would you trade your house? If you had a million dollars, would you give it
to live? Why then would you risk your life for a wallet, a car, or because
someone called you a name?
I read in the news a while back about a kid that was killed because he
refused to give up his jacket as he was being robbed. Do you think that if he had it to do over
again, he would still refuse to give up the jacket? How do you think his
parents feel? Do you think they would trade a jacket to have their son back?
Maybe you don't get killed, but are injured? In a fight, you can't control
what your injuries are. Opposed to what many people think, studying the
martial arts doesn't make you invincible. They give you an edge, but they
don't make you like one of those guys in the movies. So how much is a car
worth? A broken arm? Being paralyzed from the waist down? Living the rest of
your life on a respirator? Being turned into a vegetable? How much is a
parking space worth when there is another spot a couple cars down? Are you
going to risk injury, or even death because you had to walk another 100
feet?
Money can be replaced. A car can be replaced. There are other parking spaces. If you
start a fight, and get killed because someone called you a moron, you are a
moron!
A question I like to ask students is this: "If someone threatens me, and I
walk away, who wins?" If I get into a fight, and the guy pummels me, stabs
me, or shoots me, I lose. If I get into a fight, and I beat him senseless,
then I am risking being arrested, put into jail, sued by the guy I beat up,
etc.then I lose. If I walk away, and no one gets hurt, then we both win.
Please be aware that I am talking about a one time incident here. If these
are ongoing threats over a period of time, or a threat, or threats against
your family, please contact the police.
Road rage is one of the dumbest things! Why would anyone get all bent out of
shape being angry with someone who is in their life for a few minutes?
Chances are the other guy doesn't even know you exist (otherwise he probably
wouldn't have cut you off). Let it go. Being cut off can't be undone anyway!
If you are going to fight, make sure it is for a good reason. If someone is
going to harm you, or your family, or your friends, this is a good reason.
If someone is trying hurt you, or kill you, and you can't get away, then by
all means, fight. People can't be replaced. YOU can't be replaced. Keep in
mind the old adage: "It is better to be judged by twelve, than carried by
six."
Rob Jacob is the author of: Martial Arts Biographies - An Annotated Bibliography.
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