I read Path Notes in June. By now I have done the Secret Smile meditation around a dozen times but the problem is I’m not on any sort of schedule. If I am to keep my promise, I must find time.

Physically I noticed water now has a sweet taste. After realizing it also happened with beer, I remembered reading in Path Notes a side effect of training is sweet saliva, the “nectar of the Gods”. Didn’t think this would happen so soon in the process. I really enjoy pilsners now which combine to create a bitter-sweet liquid. Delicious.

I bought quite a few books to start my education in Hoshin, and will try to highlight where I can as I get through them. Too many to list here but they were the first one or two in the bibliography of Path Notes.

One interesting experience I will note here is that at work there are many changes happening and I have been asked to build a new team. I reached out to a colleague friend’s (Adrien) employee (Sabrina) asking her if she would be interested in joining my team, not thinking of consequences to my relationship with Adrien. When discussing with Adrien I mentioned that Sabrina would be perfect for my team, but felt it would hurt our relationship, not divulging that I had spoken with her.

A couple days later, my employee (Arnold) called me after work and mentioned he had been asked by a former colleague and friend (Kristin) to have lunch and discuss working at her company. This struck me to the chord; I’ve been to their Christmas parties, have had Kristin and her husband over for dinner, and they came to my wedding — good friends. Why wouldn’t Kristin let me know she was reaching out to Arnold, who they know is my star employee and a good friend? On top of that another “friend” (Jake) gave Arnold’s name as a reference.

Immediately it became clear that life was showing me something, a personal flaw within myself I was not aware of. It was literally putting me in Adrien’s shoes, to the point where I ask myself, is this how a friend acts?

It also became clear that perhaps I was being shown who my true friends are. I decided not to reach out to Kristin and let life play out as it goes, and stopped pursuing Sabrina for my team.

My brother gave me the Hoshin White Belt training CD this past weekend. I am going to start practicing regularly.

I ordered my black gi and tabi today, should get them sometime this week.

Commitments to self:

• Find time to meditate every day.
• Put yourself in others shoes, especially those considered friends. Predictive empathy.
• Start white belt training regularly. Let’s do Tuesday nights.