A Samurai in the Land of Squishies:

Precisely one month ago, I questioned my sanity. What have I become? In my mind, I was what every human ought to be -- a warrior in fine fighting form. Life consisted of: gym, tennis, and work. That was it. Anything else was a hindrance.

My typical week consisted of 3-4 tennis matches and three gym workouts. On the rare occasion where I had no gym or tennis, I felt shame. You are like one of them... weak and mortal.

If you were squishy and dared stumble upon my line of vision, it took every fiber of my being to not harshly judge you:

Look at this squishy fool. Inebriated. Fat. He probably can't run around for five minutes without passing out. What a waste.

In my world, survival is based on points, victories, and being measured against others. My motto would be: GIVE ME POINTS OR GIVE ME DEATH! Is this rational? Not at all.

How can enemies be subjugated if you are not armed to the gills? Shouldn't everyone exude power, stamina, and toughness? Isn't life a battlefield where we must be strong to survive? This is my world view.

The tennis courts are a perfect setting to test my battle preparedness. Every week, I battle with others for superiority and league dominance. I need constant affirmation that I am a great warrior. Perhaps it was the way I was nurtured... but it is firmly encoded in my DNA.