With the exception of nuclear reactions, the energy of any particle that hits another is less than it was prior to the impact. This is the reason for which martial arts teach that conflict is best avoided; if it cannot be avoided, then it must be reduced to the shortest possible time, to avoid draining the energy of the participants. Even in the extreme example of primitive societies, in which the winner of a combat would eat parts of his opponent hoping to absorb some of his strength, at the end of the fight the winner was nonetheless weaker than s/he was before fighting. Cancer and life-threatening diseases are like combats, and the martial arts philosophy helped me co-habitate with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, which had metastasized to the liver. I have broken this down into four steps, or elements.

1. Accept, rather than deny the existence of the disease.

2. Build up your resources, and rest.

3. Accept Death: it is inevitable to all Life. Our disease may lead us early; consider it as liberating from pain.

4. Have no regrets, do not look back: once you have selected your treatment plan, commit entirely.

Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium.

REFERENDUM ON RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA: I observed that in medical marijuana dispensaries, there were more buyers who seemed in perfect health, but who had the resources to afford the $350+ yearly fee, than there were "poor and ill" persons. It was an unjust balance and I am GRATEFUL that it has been readjusted by the overwhelming success of the referendum - and all the more that we succeeded in overcoming the massive $850,000 contribution of the Catholic Church to oppose it (was Jesus against pot??)!