better to die sharp in war than rust through a time of peace

"Better to die sharp in war than rust through a time of peace."

In recent years, I have learned how to string a series of pleasant activities into a series of mostly pleasant days, months, years. I feel alive and I feel thankful. I often think back to the pandemic, when my mental health was not the best, reminding myself that good times are a luxury.

Yet, at times, it can still feel like there's something missing.

By contrast, David Goggins said on a podcast once that "he ain't missing nothing." Because he pushes himself, thoroughly.

Yes, I have this base of happiness, but perhaps I can apply myself more. I can challenge myself. I can reach more of my potential.

Maybe I can even be Great.

I got this quote from the cover of The Sword of Kaigen. Some Tiktoker was saying how he gave this book 6 out of 5 stars, and also got some personal development from it. I finished the book and I get it now. It's something else. The world, the action, the characters.

And there are themes to take with you to the real world.

Suddenly on this topic, I'm reminded of another book.

Margo's Got Money Problems. Great book.

In the book, a young woman asks her single mother if she (the young woman) ruined her mother's life. Her mother had her as a teen. Her mother strokes her daughter's hair and responds yes, but that her daughter "ruined her life so pretty."

I suppose kids do ruin your life. They're a real challenge but there's something pretty about it.

I want a challenge that will "ruin my life so pretty."

Notes:

• What does it mean to live sharp? IMO sharpness is (1) having a right-sized challenge (2) having some amount of stakes.
  • Right-sized challenge - You don't want to be so challenged you're stretched thin or anxious, or so un-challenged you're bored and idle. You want to be in the middle—sharp. Relevant.
  • Stakes - you don't need war for stakes! Anything where you're going out on a limb, risking failure/rejection will keep you sharp.