Marty Callahan
8th Degree Black Belt
“Well, they’ll stone ya when you’re trying to be so good. They’ll stone ya just like they said they would. They’ll stone ya when you’re tryin’ to go home. Then they’ll stone ya when you’re there all alone. But I would not feel so all alone. Everybody must get stoned.”
-Bob Dylan, American Singer-Song Writer
Bob Dylan is one of America’s greatest singer-song writer. The truth in what he is saying in his song ‘Everybody Must Get Stoned’ is universal. It means that as we strive to make something of ourselves, we will all, at some point, face people who will try to hurt us.
The only time this may not happen is if we hide our life away and live in seclusion. So, if this hasn’t happened to you yet, get ready, because it will.
So, what do we do? How do we prepare ourselves? How do we go on after we get stoned? I’m not a politician and I’m generally not very trustful of them but I do admire their ability to let criticism roll off their backs.
So, we could freeze up, let fear take over, and run and hide. But if our oppressor is intent on hurting us, this will only embolden them and they will just throw more rocks. Or, we could fight back, and maybe we should but it probably shouldn’t be your first response as it can stimulate your enemy to respond with more vengeance.
But perhaps the best response is to show that it doesn’t bother you, let it roll off you, think “This too will pass” and “Oh well, have a nice day.”