“To be, or not to be” is a speech given by Prince Hamlet in William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, circa year 1599. In the speech, Hamlet contemplates death and suicide, weighing the pain and unfairness of life against the alternative, which might be worse.
This video vignette reminded me of the struggle of turning the other cheek, and intelligence (the art of de-escalation) Vs. pride and regretting a decision; And trying to find the better balance.
Sometimes, avoiding a fight doesn’t mean one’s less of a person, and you end up keeping more - losing less.
Of course, one can argue, self-defense is not in itself “fighting”, but defending from a threat, to stop said threat.
Close calls, I’ll never forget them. May cool heads prevail.
I had the opposite problem, EVERYONE thought me a coward because I refused to fight.
When I finally did and they all saw why I chose to avoid confrontation…. Suddenly none of them wanted to start trouble with me.
Time and age have certainly taken their toll on my body, but my kids and all their friends who are fit and in their early to mid 20s don’t want to dance in anything other than friendly sparring.
This is why I will fight like the third monkey boarding the Ark when it starts raining just to make sure I get home safe.
My body has issues, so my awareness, training, and CZ are what’s going to have to do the job if I get cornered, I ain’t Donnie Yen!
I never worried about what was said I lived by the saying sticks and stones may break bones but names never hurt me. Like Will B. after seeing me get into it I was left alone. I have not won all fights but I’ve never had anyone come back for a second time either.
Back in the old day’s (5’11’'/165lbs) Fit and Fierce I had a Mercury switch inside me where I went from Friendly to Mean as a snake instantly. I believe that is how I survived to the Not so fit/Half Robo Senior citizen. When that goof a while back attacked me @ the Car Wash for ‘Not moving my car’ (when he had 20 spaces he could have moved to) He ATE the Garbage pail and was taken off to Jail unconscious. I’m much mellower since then—What? Stop Laughing. I think my seasoning has given me the discernment to know when to go all out and when to disengage—this fight with the TDS Unhinged Left has upped the Awareness level and my Sister say’s my face changes when a threat is perceived. I’m @ a point in my life where if someone wants to go toe to toe with me I believe that would be a huge mistake for them.
I will go out swinging if I can’t talk my way out.
WWG1WGA
Those days are gone for a lot of us! 
I think my seasoning has given me the discernment to know when to go all out and when to disengage—this fight with the TDS Unhinged Left has upped the Awareness level and my Sister say’s my face changes when a threat is perceived. I’m @ a point in my life where if someone wants to go toe to toe with me I believe that would be a huge mistake for them.