Skip to content

Month: December 2025

Not Tired

Published on December 21, 2025

Today was one of the last days my martial arts students could test for their new belts/levels from the quarter four curriculum of 2025.

And one of the key moments that we create that usually happens at the end of every belt/level test is a hard series of physical challenges that are paired with the simple question: “Are you tired?”

Usually during their first ever test and during the occasional mid level test, they’ll say’ “Yes!”

And the response my staff and I always encourage them to say is, “No, ma’am/sir!”

During one test, I had a student say to me, “But, I am tired… and I don’t want to lie about it…”

To which I said, “And I appreciate that sentiment… but what I always want you to remember is that your mind is lying to you.”

Because what you feel like as being “tired” is really only a fraction of what you’re capable of doing. A micro-fraction in most cases.

…They just don’t know the true extent of their capabilities and potential limits.

Which is where my job comes in.

And the only way to get them there is to push the body… and the only way to do that is to strengthen their mind. Which happens one, “No ma’am/sir—I’m not tired” at a time.

Never Miss A Story

Published on December 20, 2025

My internet browser told me today, “Turn on Brave news and never miss a story.”

And boy does that sound awful.

But boy do people in society treat it as their duty to be “in the know” 24/7 and submit to the never-ending news cycle that pedals fear, hate, and doom round and round and round the clock.

Here’s a newsflash: it’s not.

In fact, missing just about all of the modern day news stories would probably result in a massive upgrade in mental health if I had to speculate.

Because here’s what’s not speculation: “If it bleeds, it leads“; “If it burns; it earns“; and it can only take around 14 minutes of news consumption to increase anxiety and depression symptoms.

…Imagine never missing a story where stories built on the above pillars are being pedaled 24/7?

Yeah. Maybe they need to change their pitch.

And yeah, maybe we need to reconsider our “duty.”

Who Do You Most Want/Need To Hear From Right Now?

Published on December 18, 2025

If you’re anything like me, you get more incoming emails than you can typically process day-to-day. And while I’ve actively unsubscribed from much of the fluff and pushy marketing stuff, there’s still a ton of great stuff I receive that I don’t want to unsubscribe from or delete.

As I mentioned a weekish ago, when it comes time for me to open my inbox, rather than read a hodgepodge of different authors who use different tones and speak from various backgrounds and life experiences—and try to context switch email to email… I’ve been bulk reading one email author at a time.

And lately, what I’ve been asking myself when I open my inbox is, “Who do I most want/need to hear from right now?” And after a minute or two of closed eye inward reflection… I usually know who that person is. And let me tell you, it makes reading emails SO much more effective (as far as comprehension) and enjoyable (as far as it being about what you want/need vs getting your inbox number down to a certain count).

Who do YOU most want/need to hear from right now?

Is your inbox filled with voices that serve you or annoy you? Maybe see if some of your favorite people to hear from have an email/newsletter they send out regularly that you can subscribe to? Maybe try unsubscribing from people you no longer want to hear from…

…Maybe try it when opening your inbox today?

Very Busy

Published on December 17, 2025

One of my martial arts students apologized to me the other day because she had a schedule change and wasn’t going to be able to make it to every available adult class anymore.

…And instead of training five times per week, she would only be able to train four times.

Two times per week is a complete and healthy training schedule—for those who don’t know. And so, of course, I told her not to apologize and that it was totally and completely okay.

A few minutes after the interaction, I happened to have a flashback moment to the time when I was originally pitching the program to her (after she had signed up her son) and remembered her saying that she was very busy and unsure about whether she’d be able to fit training into her schedule.

And I smiled and felt good about the idea that martial arts became a priority that transcended the excuse of busy.

Because it’s never that we’re too busy… is it?

…It’s that we have other things we’d rather be doing or are—consciously or unconsciously—prioritizing. For better or for worse.

Your Dream Opportunity Presents Itself… Are You Ready (Now)?

Published on December 16, 2025

This Thursday, there’s an opportunity for my martial arts students to perform at a local school in front of an auditorium of kids.

Thinking about who I want to have perform, I’ve been reflecting on: (1) Who has recently performed… (2) Who has a history of performing… and (3) Who has been noticeably practicing to perform…

In other words… an opportunity came knocking and the people I want to open the door to are the ones who have already been preparing for it…

Luck happens in life, as Seneca famously outlined, when preparation meets opportunity.

The problem for many of us in life, though, is that we’re too busy waiting to get picked by some great opportunity before we start preparing… when the ones who get picked are usually the ones who do the preparing way before the opportunity is even conceived.

Would You Choose To Fast Forward Through This?

Published on December 15, 2025

It oftentimes seems like many of us would.

In fact, when I look around, it seems like everybody is living in fast forward all of the time.

And for what?

To arrive where, exactly?

Back in bed? To doom scroll? For passive entertainment?

…Death?

Once the time passes, we don’t get it back.

Maybe we should try to live in “Play” or “Slow Motion” whenever possible so we don’t arrive at the end of our “Fast Forward” wishing we could press “Rewind.”

Legacy > Drama

Published on December 12, 2025

One of my instructors was telling me how drama was ruining some of her recent tournament experiences.

And after listening to all that was going on, what I told her was simple: don’t let something small like drama ruin something so great like legacy performances.

She’s in her national martial arts tournament era—and the experiences she’s having competing at that level are undoubtedly becoming memories that she’ll cherish forever.

…The last thing you want to do is let something petty, juvenile, or ridiculous steer you from that incredible path.

Five years from now, you won’t remember the drama in the least.

But five years from now you’ll definitely be proud of all that you pushed yourself to accomplish… And watching the videos of you putting your entire life force into a single performance is what legacy is built on.

Steer clear of the drama. Don’t let drama steer you.