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| It's been 3 days since English sailor John Blackthorne has arrived in feudal Japan of the 1600s, but to him, those 3 days have felt like 3 years. Between getting imprisoned immediately upon arrival, being crucially humiliated by Japanese soldiers (apparently peeing on people was a thing back then?), and having his ship and crew taken from him, John hasn't exactly had the best week—and that's before both his almost-execution and his near-assassination. Phew! Talk about life lining up curveballs. The one silver streak on John's horizon? His host, Lord Yoshii Toranaga of Osaka Castle, hasn't exactly been having a ball either. Perceiving him as a threat, his fellow regents have been gunning for his head for weeks. But, in math as in life, two negatives can make a positive, and so, ironically, the two unlikely allies can actually help one another, which they choose to do. After saving each other's lives several times from enemies within and without, John and Toranaga stage an epic boat escape from Osaka harbor. Then, they can finally catch their breath for a few moments. John decides to use his much-needed break for a swim. In elegant fashion, he dives off the side of their wooden ship. Toranaga watches in awe and, ever eager to learn, asks John to teach him. John's face only says one thing: "NOW?! After 3 days of being shot at, hunted, attacked, and schemed out of everything I owned, you want me to teach you how to dive?!" But before his mouth can form the words, he finds himself explaining. Toranaga cuts him off. "Please, just dive again. I want to watch." "Ah. Observational learner," goes John and obliges. No sooner has he climbed back on the boat, however, that he already hears the next prompt: "Again." And again. And again. After dozens of demonstrations, eventually, even John's translator Mariko feels bad for him. "Perhaps we can continue tomorrow?" she asks Lord Toranaga. As John catches his, Toranaga, too, takes a deep breath. It's been one hell of a week for everyone. The regent has lost several of his most loyal samurai. He has discovered that the Christian settlers in his country are plotting behind his back. And to top it all off, Toranaga had to forsake Osaka Castle—evicted, shooed out like a rat from the place where he lived, reigned, and fought for his people—all to get out of the crosshairs of corrupt regents on his council who still very much insist on killing him. With an exhale so long he seems to want to breathe out all the bad stuff that happened to him, Toranaga looks out across the ocean. His eyes set firmly on the setting sun beyond the horizon, he finally answers Mariko's request: "Tomorrow is tomorrow. Today, I will learn how to dive."
Heyo! Nik here. The above is my version of an amazing scene from Shogun, an absolute masterpiece of a period drama that came out in 2024. I loved that moment on the show because it made such a powerful point so elegantly: No one knows what the next 24 hours will bring, but every day offers an opportunity to learn—as long as you choose to do so. Now, most of us don't spend our lives getting chased around by Japanese soldiers, and we rarely end up on boats featuring expert divers, but that choice to learn every day is still one we can (and should!) make. Today marks the 365th—and last—day of 2024. Did you learn as much as you hoped you would? Did you adjust well to every situation? Did you always have the right idea at the right time? If you've struggled with any of these, the Four Minute Books Lifetime Membership will help you become a better, more consistent learner...and for a few more hours, you can join at 24% off!
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