“Each moment, only once.”

Each Moment, Only Once in Japanese is ichigo ichie and is written in kanji as

Ichigo ichie is composed of the words ichigo meaning “once in a lifetime” and the kanji ichi meaning “One” and e meaning “Meeting”. Literally “One Lifetime, One Meeting”.

ichigo ichie reminds us that each moment, each meeting will happen only once. This is a popular calligraphy work for display in the Japanese Tea ceremony and it reminds the guests of the importance of this opportunity as it will never come again. In this way, Ichigo ichie reminds us to value each and every moment.

Thanks to Jimi Tatu for passing this on…

“It is always dark on a new moon.”

- unknown

“To do is to be” – Socrates
“To be is to to” – Sartre
“Doo bee doo bee doo” – Sinatra
“Scooby doo bee doo” – Hanna-Barbara

The god you worship is the one you’re capable of becoming.

-Joseph Campbell

Nietzche was the one who did the job for me. At a certain moment in his life, the idea came to him of what he called “the love of your fate.” Whatever your fate is, whatever the hell happens, you say, “This is what I need.” It may look like a wreck, but go at it as though it were an opportunity, a challenge. If you bring love to that moment — not discouragement — you will find the strength is there. Any disaster you can survive is an improvement in your character, your stature, and your life. What a privilege! This is when the spontaneity of your own nature will have a chance to flow.

Then when looking back at your life, you will see that the moments which seemed to be great failures followed by wreckage were the incidents that shaped the life you have now. You’ll see that this is really true. Nothing can happen to you that is not positive. Even though it looks and feels at the moment like a negative crisis, it is not. The crisis throws you back, and when you are required to exhibit strength, it comes.

- Joseph Campbell, Reflections on the Art of Living

When you are required to exhibit strength, it comes.

- Joseph Campbell