**Notes to Myself 1**

"Hard times create strong men, and easy times create weak men" is one of the best sayings I've heard recently, helping me understand life more deeply. If you're going through a tough phase—whether financially or emotionally—know that you will emerge stronger in character and mind. When the old saying goes, "Time heals all wounds," this must be what they meant.

One of my favorite Zen stories goes like this: 
A great Chinese dynasty was at the height of its power, yet the emperor was anxious. He visited a Zen monk, asking for a gift to support him in his darkest times. Weeks later, the monk returned with a ring, telling the emperor it held hidden magic to be used as a last resort. 

Years passed, the dynasty weakened, and the emperor lost his power, family, and wealth. Fleeing the palace, While sitting in a remote part of the forest, overwhelmed by despair, he remembered the ring given to him by the monk. Opening its secret compartment, he found a note inside that read, "This too …