On the Current State of TaeKwonDo (4)

Of all the tenets of TaeKwonDo, the easiest to understand is probably courtesy. After all, who would argue that opening the door for someone, holding the door for an elderly passenger on the bus, or not yelling at or being condescending with a clerk is wrong? We ALL know how to be courteous, right? Although you wouldn't know from the way people behave toward one another nowadays.
The other four are either harder to understand (in the case of indomitable spirit) or tougher to accomplish or embody.
Integrity, for instance, who even knows what it means to have wholeness of character and an unwavering commitment to honor and truth anymore?
Perseverance, on the other hand, is not hard to understand but is difficult to achieve, especially for those of us who are masters of procrastination. Unless, of course, persisting in doing nothing is our way of not giving up on not doing the things we should, no matter what. Conversely, what happens when perseverance is misunderstood and we refuse to give up, even with our hand fractured in three places?
Self-control should be easy, right? Wrong! After all, we often find that the toughest behavior and habits to control are our own. Self-control is a paradox; while it is good for society and the individual, it seems to contradict human nature. Much discipline, and extensive hours of training are required to reach a satisfactory level of self-control.
Then there's the notion of an indomitable spirit...whatever the hell that means. It seems that people with an indomitable spirit are those who embody the above qualities and then some. They tend to be calm, strong, gentle people with a fierce warrior inside of them. The indomitability of their spirits consists not in sheer rebellion, but in the knowledge of that warrior inside them and their total control over him. They know the true definition of strength, and the true definition of freedom, which, as Robert Frost put it is "moving easily in harness." Their restraint is admirable, but awaken the fierce warrior and you had better run for cover, fast.