Early Paths That Shaped Me

Before arriving in Okinawa, several experiences prepared me for what I would eventually learn there. Karate was the first. It introduced me to routine, respect, and the quiet discipline of repeating movements until the body moved without hesitation. In the dōjō (道場), I learned early forms of etiquette, bowing, and focus. I also tried za-zen (座禅), even though seated meditation never suited me. Still, it taught me that steadiness of mind was something people trained for, much like stances or breathing.

My time in the Marine Corps reinforced many of the same ideas. The training was direct and demanding. It taught composure, responsibility, and doing each task with intention. I recognized that these values overlapped with the warrior mindset I had already encountered through budō (武道).

I was also drawn early on to the lives of Zen monks and the history surrounding them. Their endurance, attention, and sense of purpose stayed with me as I read more about their world. I saw similar threads in the roots of Okinawan karate and its connection to older Chinese and Shaolin practices. None of this made me a scholar, but it gave me a background that helped me pay attention once I reached Japan.

While living in Okinawa, I sometimes visited a Buddhist temple on quiet Saturday mornings. These visits were simple: incense, morning light, and a brief moment of calm. They left a lasting impression. After I returned to the United States, I slowly found my own balance between what I learned from Zen and what I appreciated in Greek Stoicism. Both offered steady ways to move through life with clarity and restraint. Over time, they naturally shaped my routines, without becoming a formal system.

These early influences did not define me, but they prepared me to understand Okinawa with a clearer mind and more patience.

awari wa hajimari 終わりは始まり

The phrase awari wa hajimari (終わりは始まり), "the end is the beginning," has become one of the core concepts in my life. For most, what are the undesirable chores or routines I see are actually small cycles of completion and renewal. 

I know at this point it is a widely popularized cliche, but the Marine Corps has taught me to make a perfect bed each morning. From the Japanese perspective, making the bed —or putting away a bed roll if you sleep on tatami —is not merely the end of the sleep cycle but the first meditative gesture towards the new day. Similarly, routines like a morning shower and shave make for a better day.

When I cook, I have a habit of opening jars of spices one by one, inhaling each aroma before deciding what belongs in the pot. I put the spice on the palm of my hand; do not use a spoon or a measuring cup. I never buy pre-mixed blends, because each spice has its own character and spirit. This small ritual is a moment of ichigo ichie (一期一会) — “one time, one meeting.” 

It is a conversation between nature and my senses, a way of meeting the present moment through something as ordinary as soup. I have come to understand that mindfulness does not require meditation cushions or temples; it happens in the kitchen, in the steam rising from a pot.

In Okinawa, where I once lived, this way of being seemed to exist naturally. The people there often said nankuru naisa (なんくるないさ) — “things will work out if you live sincerely.” It was not laziness or avoidance, but trust in the natural order of life. They treated their surroundings with quiet respect, believing that kami (神), the spirits of Shinto, reside in all things — the house, the tools, the garden, the wind. I feel this too. When I handle my kitchen knife or clean the counter, I sense I am tending to more than objects; I am honoring the spirit of the place. The home becomes a living jinja (神社), a personal shrine of gratitude.


I have also found this awareness in my work with tools, both physical and digital. I love Japanese joinery, not only for its precision but for the respect it shows toward wood and craftsmanship. The carpenter’s philosophy, shokunin kishitsu (職人気質), resonates with me as deeply as any teaching of Zen. To sharpen a chisel before beginning work is not preparation; it is part of the work itself. In the same way, I see software architecture — the structure before the code — as the sharpening of my craft. A well-tuned tool or a well-structured program allows the spirit of the task to flow without resistance. In both, mastery is less about performance and more about readiness.

These ideas have merged for me into a kind of personal dō (道) — a way of life. Whether I am practicing karate, writing code, or tending to a small bonsai, I feel the same rhythm. Each motion is shugyō (修行), daily discipline that refines not only skill but character. Each action ends and begins at once. The repetition is not dull; it is liberating. There is no “done,” only continuous practice.

Over time, awari wa hajimari has changed how I see everything. The end of the day, the last spoon washed, the final line of code written — none of these are true endings. They are bows, gestures of gratitude before the next beginning. This awareness brings a calm satisfaction, a kind of chōwa (調和), harmony between what I do and who I am. Life becomes less about achieving and more about participating in its cycles — the quiet flow of beginnings, endings, and the spaces between.

To really know

To study is to know more.

The more you know,

the more you know what you do not know.

And, once you know that you know so very little.

You will know that you are an imposter.

But once you realize it all, you will really know.

And you will be a wizard, you will write it all

and sing and paint, and be an artist.

Please SUBSCRIBE: https://ukidlucas.beehiiv.com/

Mastering Time: How 365 Days of Habits Can Transform Your Life

In this post, I reflect on the profound impact of habits and effective time management over a year. 

I share personal experiences and strategies on how small daily habits contribute to success through steady, incremental improvements. 

I highlight the exponential growth in skills and investments and illustrate the compound effects of daily disciplines. 

I also delve into my personal routines and how they enhance my productivity and overall success.

How do I manage my time?

The answer boils down to habits.

Before discussing habits, I would like to talk about exponential growth.

Why is exponential growth a crucial concept for success?

Whether it is an investment of time in building expertise or finances,
exponential growth is a gateway to personal success. 

Let's assume we have a starting state (or baseline);
this could be a $100 bill saved under the bed mattress or your current skillset. 

If we leave it under the mattress for a year, we will still have $100. 

We must understand that we do not want to add a tiny bit by putting a single cent under the mattress.

We use the baseline, or the capital we have, to increase the whole by 0.01 daily,
or reinvest what you have.

• So, doing nothing, we still have $100
• Daily adding a cent (0.01 of a dollar) leaves us with $103.65
• Reinvesting the capital and increasing it by 0.01 daily gives us $37,783

Doing nothing or saving does NOT work in life. 

Reinvesting works!

As a nerdy scientist, I had to write a program that shows this. 

Can you imagine what would this give you over 10 years?

Wait, wait, kaboom!  

I know constantly growing your capital at 1% (0.01) daily is not sustainable.

I gave you the numbers for dramatic effect. Otherwise, you would not be impressed.

Skills do grow at an exponential rate.

Think about car driving. 

At first, you go slow and wobbly, but soon after, you are cruising on the highway at 85 mph while eating a hamburger with one hand and drinking a 24-oz Coke with another. There are so many things wrong with this picture.

What are my time management habits?

I get plenty of sleep; it is crucial. I am writing this first because I know plenty of people who like living on credit. Trust me, this creditor is merciless. Do not borrow here.

I get up at 5 AM every day of the week.
I tried to get up at zero-dark-thirty for a while, but I was tired all day. 5 a.m. is just right.

My best thinking time is early morning before people show up. I guard this time for the best intellectual work.

I use the 15-minute retrospective rule. Review how you have spent the last 15 minutes and ask yourself if it improved your life. If not, change what you are doing.

I do not like wasting time. I treasure a good conversation with a friend, I like poetry, and I stop to smell flowers or at least take a photo, but I hate wasting time.

Social Media kills our productivity. I watch many videos but always do it to learn something interesting.

Gaming kills productivity. I am considering them as an equivalent of hard drugs and allow none.

I try to be in the office every workday. I do not believe in working from home. You have to be present and in the action, or you lose.

I like taking time off at midday, walking during lunchtime, or napping. The latter is difficult at work, but I will do it when I retire. 

How do I learn new habits?

Many will say that getting up at 5 a.m. and watching every 15 minutes is crazy and too hard. 

I could talk about motivation and setting the right environment to avoid excuses, but I no longer believe in that.

It is hard to explain, but being a Stoic Philosopher or at least a follower does it for me.

When I face a decision to do it or be lazy, a voice in my head says to me:

"You are not the kind of person to make this bad decision." 

That is all, voices in my head. :)

View on Amazon:

#book	The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business	Charles Duhigg
#book	Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad	by James Clear

Please SUBSCRIBE: https://ukidlucas.beehiiv.com/