I was reading about Professor Phil Zimbardo's "Heroic Imagination Project" when I reread an email from my friend Bruce in Japan. While talking with
his class and Professor Allen-Tamai's classes the week before I had told some the story, "Boys Wear Pink" and students had
responded with some important, heartfelt stories of their own. Here is a page from Professor Zimbardo's web site...
Lesson-3: Take Action
Last lesson’s Hero Challenge asked you to build your courage to face
challenges in the moment. Reacting to a bad situation is one half of
being a hero. The other is becoming proactive! This week is about
building a life of heroism, making your journey through life a “hero’s
journey.”
Now watch this video: Of course your life is not a movie, and none of us can jump from
skyscraper to skyscraper in one fell swoop. In real life, heroism is
about what’s inside your mind.
What would you do in this arena if you could do anything? Is there a social issue about which you are passionate? Following is a video which describes the work of Dan Wallrath, a
social activist who is building and donating homes to military veterans.
Now watch this video:
Becoming a proactive hero means connecting your head, heart, and
guts. Things that you care about deeply and authentically are the key.
At the end of this page, we’ll ask you to make a commitment to act in
an area where you feel a need for change. Will you commit to use your
compassion, courage and wisdom to make a positive difference? Just
remember, as you continue along your heroic path, there are bound to be
hurdles to clear. To clear them, use your courage, and persistence.
Before you start, remember:
Knowing that practice makes your everyday heroism improve means that
there are no failures, just feedback, so try, try again to do the right
thing. You are not given a particular allocation of heroic capabilities
at birth that you can never increase — you can always increase your
ability to act heroically through your effort. People who bounce back from set-backs use a positive explanatory
style: they recognize their power to influence their world, they see
setbacks as temporary, and they keep things in perspective – a bad
outcome in one area of life or at one moment doesn’t sour their entire
outlook.
Call to Action - So what will you do?
What specific action will you take this week to make this change in the world? Opportunities are all around you. Good luck!
Prof Zimbardo's project was inspiring. Then I saw that Bruce had written this:
"I was just talking with Prof. Saito, reminiscing on your talk and meeting, and she added another interesting story to the pink shirts, red dress, bullying story theme. It too is a true story--one that I hadn't heard--about Kenji Miyazawa (1896-1933), who is perhaps my favorite modern Japanese story writer-poet : see for example his short story "Restaurant of Many Orders" Translations & Such: The Restaurant of Many Orders [Miyazawa Kenji]. When he was in school, there was a very poor boy in his class. The boy's mother had only some red cloth from which to make his underwear (probably the good old "fundoshi"--or perhaps it included some larger undershirt) So he went to school and a bully spotted the red underwear, and as bullies do, he proceeded to bully and punch the boy because of this. When Kenji heard of this he found some red cloth (he too was dirt poor) and made himself some red underwear and wore it to school the next day. He walked up to the bully and said, "So if you're punching him, I guess you'll have to punch me too". Kenji was never big, or robust of health, but the bully backed down and gave up bullying the other boy. Kenji went on to become one of the world's best, most beloved storytellers. "
The Restaurant of Many Orders [Miyazawa Kenji]
Once there were two young gentlemen deep in the mountains, among the dry leaves. They were dressed just like British soldiers and carried shiny guns. With them were two dogs that looked like polar bears. One of them said something like this:
“What’s wrong with these mountains? We haven’t seen a single bird nor beast! I wish something would show up so that I could shoot it. Bang! Baang!” “Wouldn’t it be nice to put a couple of bullets into the yellow belly of a deer about now! To watch it spin about a couple of times before it fell down dead!”
They were deep in the mountains. So deep, in fact, that even their hunter guide had gotten lost and wandered off. So deep, in fact, that even those dogs that looked like polar bears both got dizzy, and howled, and foamed at the mouth, and dropped dead.
“Well there goes 2,400 yen!” said one of the men, peeling back his dog’s eyelid. “Well mine was 2,800 yen!” said the other man, his head lowered in regret.
The first gentleman went pale, and he carefully watched the other gentleman’s expression as he said, “I think we should head back.” “I think we should head back, too. The weather has gotten cold, and I’ve gotten hungry.” “Well then let’s call it quits. On the way back, we can stop by that inn we stayed at yesterday and buy some game birds.”
Miyazawa Kenji died at 36 of pneumonia
“They had rabbit, too, didn’t they? It’ll be just as if we hunted them ourselves. Well, let’s get going, then.”
But wouldn’t you know, they had no idea which direction would get them back. The wind howled, the grass rustled, the leaves whispered, the trees creaked.
“I’m so hungry! I’ve had a pain in my side since a while back.” “Me, too. I hope we don’t have to walk much further.” “I hope so, too. Oh, what shall we do? I really want something to eat!” “I really want something to eat, too!”
The two gentlemen carried on like that as they walked through the rustling grass. Glancing behind, one of them saw an impressive Western-style house. At its entrance was a sign:
RESTAURANT WILDCAT HOUSE
“This is perfect! There’s a place to eat right here! Let’s go in!” “Well now, I wonder what a restaurant is doing in a place like this? But I guess they serve food here...” “Of course they do! That’s what the sign says!” “Well then, let’s go in. I’m so hungry I could faint.”
The two of them stood at the entranceway. It was quite impressive, made of white porcelain bricks. There was also a glass door with gold writing that said:
All are welcome. Please come in for a free meal.
The two hunters were overjoyed, and said: “Well do you see that? What a wonderful place the world is. We had a bad time earlier today, but now look how lucky we are! Not only did we find a restaurant, but one with free food!”
“That’s right! The sign says that they’ll make us a free meal!”
They pushed open the door and went inside, entering a hallway. On the other side of the glass door was written:
We especially welcome our fat and young customers.
The two were thrilled to be especially welcomed.
“Hey! We’re doubly welcome!” “That’s right! We’re both fat and young!”
Marching down the hallway, they next came to a door painted blue.
“What an odd house. I wonder why it has so many doors?” “This is the Russian style. All houses in cold places or in the mountains are built like this.”
As they began to open the door, they noticed something written in yellow above them:
This is a restaurant with many orders. Please be patient.
“They’re that busy, all the way up here in the mountains?” “Well, sure. Even down in Tokyo, none of the big restaurants are on the main streets!”
As they were talking they opened the door. On the other side was written:
We really have many orders. Please be patient with each one.
Day Six Wednesday, NOV 16, 2011
Being immersed in Japanese culture, even for so short a time, was like meeting an old friend and starting up a warm friendship right where we left off 30 something years ago. This was not the starry eyed admiration of a 23 year old who was so disappointed in her US plastic-TV 'culture' Back then and even now I feel this exchange mirrors my deepest misgivings about our young 'culture'-
Reporter: "Mr. Gandhi, what do you think of Western civilization?"
Gandhi: "I think it would be a very good idea." Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948)
Now, I know the US has some fine traditions and that Japanese culture also has a dark side. Still, there are so many norms of civil society in Japan and so many Japanese people are so very kind and genuine...it is remarkable. Some concrete examples I noticed: Water in the subway, to drink and to fill bottles. Water in fountains at public parks - with faucets that stay on unless turned off. Think about it -where in the US do we still have that? Lights in a subway station with chain pulls that are easily reached by any passerby. Public places in airports and train stations are clean, bright and comfortable.
Tourist places and train stations are filled with people to help you
find your way.
I got up, had one last breakfast with Bruce and Mitsue, who have cooked for me and taken care of my every comfort. As much as I missed my family, I was sad to leave because I had felt so at home in Japan and we never see enough of our dear friends who work so hard and live so far away. I said goodbye to Bruce who went off to work first and then answered some emails. Mitsue left an hour or so later and I had a few free hours on a lovely sunny day to wander and shop for souvenirs. I went to the mall that was attached to the amusement park and bought some random things and then hurried home to see if all my stuff could be packed into one bag. Took some doing but I did it. I locked up and hopped into a cab that I directed to the correct Ueno station for the train to Narita. Phew. What a trip.
at the onsen, eating a multi-course dinner
Day Five Tuesday, NOV 15, 2011
First thing this am, we tried to get Mituse's iPad working to download movies. She showed me a delightful story of a tandem telling of "Jack in The Beanstalk" by a two year old and his aunt. Then it was time to hit the road to meet Bruce at Seisen University in Gotanda area of Tokyo. We took three trains and walked a ways too. Poor Mitsue had to do all that and more to get to her work. Seisen Univesrity is a small and beautiful Catholic college. Also an all girls college, the main building is from the 1850s and the grounds are lush with trees and vegetation - right in the center of Tokyo. Everyone at Seisen was extraordinarily friendly and engaging. Bruce considers himself very lucky.
Day Four Monday, NOV 14, 2011
Got up really early - around 6AM and walked from Yugawara, Ohnoya onsen, to the main street and back - almost in time for breakfast. meet with Kris Kondo, an old friend from Boston/Kaji Aso Studio days. She had so many gifts for me! See them in the slide show below; jewelry, poetry, painted rocks, robes! An amazing treasure trove.
Day Three Sunday, NOV 13, 2011
We took a taxi to the next talk, which felt as if it was just down the street. ShoPro.co.jp has published Mitsue's book and CD. they gathered together nearly 60 teachers of English who were as lively and engaged a group of educators as I have ever met. We had a blast working together. And then it was time for a trip to the Ohnoyaonsen and an overnight at a traditional tatami-floored, shoji-doored ryokan. This feature of Japanese life had been the highlight of my first trip to Japan and I was not disappointed my second time around. The small town of Yuguwara ( I think I am not remembering the name correctly, will have to check this) was very charming, more beautiful than 'cute' and we walked around alot. At the inn we exchanged modern western clothes for Japanese yukata and ate and slept on the sweet smelling tatami floor. I was told we even had a small earthquake to round out the authentic cultural experience. I slept right through it because at dinner the sake flowed and the fish dishes just kept on coming. Heavenly!
