Category Archives: Japanese Proverbs

proverbs and saying from Japan

Feb 20 2 comments
balance, Japanese, Japanese Proverbs

>They Who Smile

>A vintage napkin from 2003, given to my daughters’ in their lunches. Two daughters (at the time) were in high school and I drew a napkin for each of them.


Of course, it’s a balancing act. It isn’t realistic to just smile at all things. If you do you aren’t able to protest injustice, you aren’t able to let your anger be known, among other things. But in the end, the angry raging person is unhappy, becomes shrill and unattractive and as a result is weaker and less able to be a positive influence in the world.

If you have trouble finding the smile inside, try to think about what you get out of being angry. What does it feed in you, what does it validate, or hold at bay? Do you really need that anger and rage to be successful or happy in life? Take a chance, let go of it, just a bit. I bet you will smile at the results.

Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily

Quote is a Japanese proverb

Jan 30 0 comments
friends, Japanese Proverbs, kindness

>One Kind Word in Winter

>

A young friend of mine had a car accident on Friday, here in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The winter weather – sleet and freezing rain – had been falling most of the day and when something went wrong on the road, I don’t know what, she rolled her car over. She thought she had died because all she saw was white, then she realized it was snow and ice everywhere. She ended up hanging upside down in her car by her seatbelt. Her dog was in the car with her and she thought he was dead as well until she reached out for it and it responded.

She posted photos of the strangulation-like raw marks all over her neck and upper chest from the seat belt. It was not a pretty sight. She can barely move her neck.

The lessons learned? Don’t take life for granted. Pay attention to important things. Don’t delay telling people how you appreciate them. These are not uncommon lessons. We hear them over and over. My hope is that my young friend takes action and turns these new lessons into the habits of her life.

Because it isn’t learning a lesson that is hard. It is becoming the lesson that is.

Say the word.
Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily

Quote is a Japanese proverb

Oct 26 0 comments
Japanese Proverbs

>Unless You Enter

>Japanese Proverb

The meaning is pretty obvious I think. You want something of value? You have to face danger to get it.
What danger do you face?

Drawing by Marty Coleman of
The Napkin Dad Daily blog


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