The Warrior's Path: Leave It Better Than You Found It

Ancient Wisdom from Marcus Aurelius, Mother Teresa, and the Campsite Rule

A Lesson of Wisdom in a Yoga Studio Restroom

Years ago, Amy and I would frequently visit an Iyengar Yoga studio in Ventura, California. The studio, owned and run by Bryan LeGere (who sadly passed away in 2019), was a sanctuary of peace and positive energy. The practice was rigorous but rewarding, and Bryan was masterful in his guidance.

Inevitably during these visits, I'd find myself using the restroom. There, hanging on the wall, was a simple framed message that caught my attention every time:

I was intrigued by this quote attributed to the great sage Patanjali, author of the Yoga Sutras. [free PDF download]

Despite owning several translations of the Yoga Sutras and searching through them, I could never locate this specific aphorism but I'm sure Bryan's understandings of these sacred texts were much deeper than mine. Yet my inability to find its source didn't diminish its power or resonance.

That bathroom sign became a quiet teacher to me. Initially, I thought it was merely practical advice for a shared restroom—wipe down the sink, pick up stray paper towels, show consideration for the next user. Simple enough.

But over time, I realized the profound depth beneath these simple words. This wasn't just about bathroom etiquette. It was about how we move through the world.

Later, I remembered this concept is commonly known as the "campsite rule"—leave a campsite cleaner than you found it. It's taught to scouts, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts worldwide.

More fascinating still, I began to recognize this same principle woven throughout history's greatest wisdom teachings. I saw it in the stoic reflections of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. I saw it in the humble service of Mother Teresa in Calcutta's slums. Two individuals separated by nearly two thousand years, from vastly different cultures and contexts, yet united by this common thread of warrior wisdom.

What if this simple principle—leave things better than you found them—was the thread that connected all true wisdom?

What if it was the simplest path to a purposeful life and a better world?

That's the journey I want to take you on today.

Warriors Who Leave It Better

The Emperor's Journal: Marcus Aurelius and Responding to Harm

​Marcus Aurelius, Emperor of Rome from 161 to 180 CE, led one of the most powerful empires in human history. Yet his private journal—never intended for publication but later assembled as "Meditations"—reveals a man engaged in a profound inner struggle to remain virtuous amid chaos.

Marcus faced constant betrayals, challenges, and disappointments. People lied, conspired, and acted from self-interest. In his position, he could have easily justified retribution or cruelty. Instead, he wrote to himself:

What Marcus was practicing was a radical responsibility for his own actions, independent of others' behavior. He reminded himself that people act poorly out of ignorance, not malice, and that responding with anger or resentment would only create more suffering.

He wrote: "The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury."

This is the warrior's approach—refusing to let the world's darkness dictate your response. Instead of meeting harm with harm, the Stoic emperor chose to meet harm with virtue. He understood that his duty was not to mirror the world as he found it, but to leave it more dignified through his presence.

The Saint of Calcutta: Mother Teresa and Doing Good Anyway

On the wall of Mother Teresa's children's home in Calcutta hung what has become known as her "Anyway Poem":

Though often attributed directly to Mother Teresa, these words were actually adapted from a text by Kent Keith, but she popularized them and lived by their message.

What's striking about this philosophy is its sheer determination to do good regardless of response or reward. Mother Teresa served the poorest of the poor, the sickest of the sick, when many turned away. She didn't serve expecting gratitude, recognition, or even success.

Her understanding that "it was never between you and them anyway" reflects a profound insight: our actions exist in relationship to our highest values, our deepest sense of purpose—or "God" as she would say—not merely as transactions with others.

Her warrior wisdom wasn't about fighting enemies but about fighting the temptation to become small, bitter, or indifferent in the face of a harsh world.

The Campsite Rule: A Universal Principle

What these two seemingly different figures share is the essence of the campsite rule: leave things better than you found them, regardless of how others have treated the space.

The campsite rule is elegant in its simplicity:

1. Acknowledge the state of what you encounter
2. Take responsibility for your impact
3. Make improvements, however small
4. Depart knowing you've contributed positively

This principle works across all scales of human experience:

• In physical spaces: Clean up not just your trash but the trash of others
• In relationships: Leave people feeling more valued and understood than before they met you
• In organizations: Improve systems and culture, not just do your job
• In society: Address problems rather than just complaining about them

The profound aspect of this rule is that it asks nothing about the behavior of others. It doesn't say "leave the campsite better than you found it—unless the previous campers were slobs." It doesn't offer exceptions based on how others behave.

The Warrior Mindset: Response Over Reaction

What makes this approach a "warrior wisdom" rather than simply nice advice?

True warriors understand that their power lies in their response, not in their circumstances.

Anyone can be pleasant when treated well. Anyone can be generous when it costs nothing. Anyone can be kind to those who are kind to them.

The warrior's path is choosing your response rather than simply reacting:

• When Marcus Aurelius faces betrayal, he responds with justice tempered by mercy
• When Mother Teresa encounters ingratitude, she responds with continued service
• When a camper finds a messy site, they respond by cleaning it up rather than adding to the mess

This is not passive acceptance. It's active engagement with reality as it is, combined with the courage to improve what you can.

The Ripple Effect: Small Acts, Massive Impact

Mathematically, if every person simply maintained the status quo—leaving things exactly as they found them—the world would remain static. If even a fraction of people make things worse, the overall trajectory is decline.

But if each person commits to the campsite rule—leaving things just slightly better—the compound effect over time and across populations is tremendous. Small improvements accumulate. Positive examples inspire others. Systems begin to heal and regenerate.

Imagine if each interaction you had today left the other person feeling a bit better. Imagine if each space you occupied was slightly improved by your presence. Imagine if each organization you belonged to became marginally healthier because of your contribution.

The cumulative effect would transform our world without requiring dramatic revolution or utopian schemes. It simply requires each of us to embrace the responsibility of leaving things better than we found them.

Putting It On the Mat: The Warrior's Practice

So how do we turn this ancient wisdom into daily practice? How do we become the kind of warriors who leave every situation better, regardless of how we found it?

The Daily Campsite Audit

Start by conducting what I call a "campsite audit" of your life. Each evening, ask yourself:

• What spaces did I occupy today?
• What relationships did I engage with?
• What communities or organizations did I participate in?
• Did I leave each one better than I found it?

Be brutally honest. This isn't about perfection; it's about awareness and intention.

Maybe you left physical spaces clean but brought negative energy into a conversation. Maybe you were environmentally conscious but complained about problems without offering solutions. The audit helps you identify where you can improve tomorrow.

The Three Levels of Practice

There are three levels to mastering this warrior wisdom:

Level 1: Do No Harm This is the foundation. Before you can make things better, commit to not making them worse. Don't add to the trash, the negativity, the problems.

Level 2: Restore to Better Than Found Now actively improve what you encounter. Clean up not just your mess but others' as well. Bring positive energy to tense situations. Contribute solutions, not just identify problems.

Level 3: Create Sustainable Systems of Improvement At the highest level, create systems that continue the improvement after you're gone. Teach others the campsite rule. Implement processes that make it easier for everyone to leave things better. Build cultures that value and reward this mindset.

Small Acts, Big Impact

Remember that "leaving it better" doesn't require grand gestures. Consider these simple daily practices:

• Pick up one piece of litter that isn't yours
• Send one message of genuine appreciation each day
• Find one small improvement in your home or workspace
• Listen fully to someone without waiting to respond
• Teach one person something valuable that you know
• Fix something broken instead of throwing it away
• Plant something that will grow after you're gone

These small acts compound over time into a life of meaningful impact.

When It Gets Hard

There will be days when others' negligence makes it tempting to abandon this principle. When the campsite is trashed, when people are ungrateful, when your efforts seem futile—that's when this practice matters most.

In those moments, remember Marcus Aurelius writing by lamplight, reminding himself that other people's actions should not determine his virtue.

Remember Mother Teresa tending to the dying in Calcutta's slums, doing good anyway. Remember that true warriors find their strength not in easy circumstances but in choosing their response to difficult ones.

The Final Truth

The ultimate truth of this warrior wisdom is that it benefits you as much as the world. Living by the campsite rule creates a sense of purpose and agency. It connects you to something larger than yourself. It builds integrity between your values and your actions.

When you commit to leaving things better than you found them—regardless of how others behave—you reclaim your power in a world that often feels chaotic and uncontrollable.

So I challenge you:

1. Start today: Identify three "campsites" in your life—physical spaces, relationships, or situations
2. Take responsibility: For each one, identify one specific way you can leave it better
3. Act immediately: Don't wait for perfect conditions or others to go first
4. Share the principle: Teach someone else the campsite rule
5. Build the habit: Each night, ask yourself, "Did I leave it better today?"

This is the warrior's path—responding to the world as it is with the commitment to make it better, one campsite at a time.

It was true for Marcus Aurelius in ancient Rome. It was true for Mother Teresa in Calcutta's slums. It is true for you, wherever you find yourself today.

Leave it better than you found it. The world is waiting.

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