The daruma is a round, red doll with a weighted bottom. Push it over, and it rights itself. Push it again — same result. The daruma is a symbol of gaman — perseverance, resilience, the refusal to stay down. When you set a goal, you paint in one eye. When you achieve it, you paint in the other. The one-eyed daruma sitting on your desk is a daily reminder: you are not finished yet, but you have begun.

Going Deeper

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