A letter from a friend in Italy

I wanted to share a letter I received from a friend, Antonio, in Italy along with my response it's a message I feel others need to hear as well.

His name is Antonio (Tony to me) and I met him virtually a few years ago when he was preparing an article and book on Bruce Lee. Close to 60 years ago I was a Sensei or teacher in a Karate school in Oakland California. It was before I met Patti and our ensuing 57 years of marriage but one night as i was closing the Dojo where I taught a Chinese friend and student brought his cousin by to meet me. It was Bruce Lee before his Green Hornet TV break through plus his many movies. He was opening a Kung Fu or martial arts school in Berkeley and after talking with Bruce for a few hours and sparring with him I became his student the next week and he was my Sifu or teacher. He was the most talented martial artist I ever met and was the real deal.

Tony's Letter and My response:

Ciao Bill,

How are you doing?

I'm so sorry if didn't write you in these days. How's life there?

I heard about George Floyd . It was a sad situation.

Take care.

Antonio

Antonio - thank you for your note and yes, what happened to George Floyd was sad and we are all saddened by his senseless death. The reaction that has taken place is global and points out that bias and prejudice still exists but good people everywhere reject it. Since I was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis 9 years ago and came to understand each day I live is a great blessing. I have learned many lessons but perhaps the most important is regardless of who you are, what you say or do, how you look and more we are all human beings. Sometimes we only see what we want to see but I have learned that each and every one of those living with pulmonary fibrosis, as I am, are truly in every sense of the word my brothers and sisters. It does not matter how rich or poor, how big or small, your color, orientation, sex, old or young, or how your thoughts, words or actions may differ from mine, if you are a patient you are my brother or sister and my love and support for you is not diminished because of those things that when viewed from afar are trivial, mundane and not really that important in the scheme of living. Life is not about things, it's about others, about people. Once I accepted we are all human beings and we are truly brothers and sisters my life changed. My life is driven by my love and respect of others and focused on living and accepting the unique differences we all share. So please Antonio, please do not judge our country harshly because of the actions of a few and I invite you and others to instead to dwell on the many things we all share and have in common and to join me in looking for ways to reach out to help and support others. In the end your life is judged by what you gave in life, not what you took from it.