It was late autumn. The evenings had turned slightly chill and the nights were now a bit breezy. The tall trees of the Jurin forest swayed gently in unison as the Higashi wind caressed them. The occasional hoot of an owl was the only other sound that broke the silence deep within the huge swath of forest that covered this part of the world. Through the forest ran Doro road, which was made of hard packed dirt. It was well-traveled but still gave the feeling of moving through unexplored territory. Here and there a side road would split off from the main one and disappear into the woods. Deep within the forest there was a clearing where five roads came together to meet the main one. At the center of the clearing stood Seki Inn. It was a large building with three large stables and a barn behind it. The inn usually did a brisk business. Not many people traveled at night along the Doro. It wasn’t that traveling at night was all that dangerous, it was simply that Seki Inn was a pleasant place to stay as one traveled from the city of Machi to the outer villages. In the center of the main room was a huge hearth with a roaring fire that was cracking and shooting sparks into the air. The patrons filled the room, eating, drinking, singing and laughing. The innkeeper smiled at his good fortune. He had a full house. Life was full of happiness.

Late that evening there came a knock at the heavy oak door. The innkeeper opened it to find a lone traveler dressed in grey robes and a straw hat. He was not a young man, yet he didn’t seem old either, except for a little gray in his beard. He carried a worn walking stick and a small satchel.

 

“Good evening sir, it is a chill night this evening.” The innkeeper spoke.

“Indeed,” the man replied. “Perhaps I could warm up by your fire.”

“Of course,” the innkeeper stepped aside and motioned him to enter.

The man bowed as he stepped past the innkeeper into the brightly lit room, shaking the cold from his robe. He removed his straw hat. He had a strong face, yet now one could see that it was somewhat weather-beaten and wrinkled. His blue eyes held a bright crystal shine as he smiled. He gracefully moved through the crowd to the fire and began to warm his body. The innkeeper followed him.

After a few moments the man spoke. “Thank you for the warmth of your fire.”

“With pleasure, sir,” the innkeeper said. “Would you care for some food?”

“That would be most welcome,” the robed man replied.

The innkeeper signaled across the room for food to be brought.

“I must travel a good distance tomorrow, perhaps you could spare a room for the evening.”

The innkeeper frowned. "I’m very sorry, sir, we have a full house tonight. It fills up quickly. We’ve been full since dusk.”

The man nodded and set to eating as the food arrived. “Then I thank you for the meal and will depart when I am done.”

The innkeeper frowned. He didn’t want the man to leave. “I wish we could accommodate you, sir. The only room we have is the loft above the barn. It’s quite drafty and damp." He quickly offered.

"Sounds wonderful," the man’s face broke into another smile.

"But it really isn't wonderful," the Innkeeper insisted. "You haven't seen it. It actually is not very pleasant. The furniture is all piled up at one end and there is only straw on the floor. You won’t be happy with it."

"Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like the room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged... it's how I arrange my mind.

Whether I think it’s wonderful or horrible, I’m right,” the man replied, “…and I’ve already decided on wonderful.”

The Innkeeper looked at the man as he thought on this.

“It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up,” the man continued. “Every day I have a choice: I can lie in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work…or I can get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do work. I can think about not having enough time or money to do what I want…or be happy for what I am able to do. Just as I can be miserable in the space you can spare for me…or I can enjoy it. It really isn’t a difficult choice."

“Well, that is truly an excellent way of looking at things,” The innkeeper sighed. “I wish I could do that.”

“It’s not about wishing you could do something…it’s knowing you can and living that way.” The other man replied gently as he rubbed his hands in front of the fire.

“Please sir, may I ask your name?”

“My name is Zin.”