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Category: Making A Difference

Too Cool For School

Published on June 16, 2022

Today, I had the privilege of presenting a martial arts driven character development class to nine groups of Kindergarden through 8th graders.

It was highly rewarding and the message I was able to share felt well received.

When the 8th graders (13-15 years old) arrived for their session, however, the apprehension and self-consciousness was thick in the air.

Just about all of the kids were more concerned with what each of the other kids thought and wouldn’t so much as stand up without a strong enough prompt.

They had other things on their mind—boys, girls, being funny, being liked, being noticed, looking cool, looking rebellious, looking like a part of the group, etc.

And so I offered them a simple invitation: I’m here to show you how martial arts can add value to your lives. If you want to learn how, step forward. If you’d rather not, step back.

And I wish I could say they all stepped forward—but, they didn’t.

Only a group of about 6 (out of 30ish) did.

And so I focused all of my attention on those six. I even huddled them tight after the session and gave them more than I planned on giving—as a thank you.

It’s so easy to feel like we’re up against the majority in our lives—and often we are. And it can be tempting to just slide back and blend into mix of the group—certainly nobody would blame you.

But, to step forward in confidence? In spite of the group decision? At risk of social consequence?

This… my friends… is where leadership is born and how any noteworthy change—is made.

Flowering Reality

Published on May 27, 2022

Thinking love is not the same as expressing love.

Thinking kindness is not the same as expressing kindness.

Thinking gratitude is not the same as expressing gratitude.

When you move your most beautiful thoughts into reality, the byproduct is a more beautiful reality.

Beautiful thoughts left unexpressed are quickly buried beneath the forever churning soils of the mind and the result is a forgotten about seed and unchanged reality.

Help flower our shared reality by intentionally nurturing, harvesting, and sharing all of what’s beautiful inside of you. However and whenever you can. Our reality needs it.

Be Water, My Friend

Published on April 28, 2022

Understand this: we are a vessel that carries either water or gas to and from each of our daily interactions—it’s rarely anything else.

With that in mind, our mission becomes quite clear.

We must take the time needed to fill ourselves up each day until we are overflowing with “water” rather than allowing our internal chemistry to unwillingly produce and start spewing “gas.”

Then, with every “fire” we cross, we have to let what comes from inside of us dilute the harsh flames rather than further enrage their fury.

After all, do we want to be contributors to even more uncontrollable chaos in the world? Or do we want to be the facilitators of fresh air?

And to my idealist friends out there: the key isn’t to let the number of fires in the world—or their size—intimidate you to inaction.

The most grandiose plan to extinguish all fires in the world pales in comparison to the fire that’s actually put out in your own backyard.

Today, as you embark on the path of your day—be water, my friend.

And focus on the actual flames that present themselves at each step along the way.

Come Alive

Published on March 29, 2022

The future is not “lost.”

We are not “hopeless.”

We are incredibly passionate, resilient, and innovative.

What we need isn’t a defeatist mentality.

What we need are more people to come alive and realize the impact their individual actions can have on the greater whole.

Filling Someone Else’s Void

Published on July 19, 2021

Rather than think about who you didn’t have in your life, think about who you could be in someone else’s life.

There is a particularly strong opportunity for this in the spaces where you were hurt the most by the people who you wish were there the most.

Why? Because you know just how much it hurts.

And there are plenty of people out there who are hurting just as much—if not more—from a similar type of absence.

And, just think, you could be the one who fills that void.

Don’t Ignore Your Call(s) For Humanity

Published on July 6, 2021

We need to see the suffering in the world so that we can respond with compassion.

As in, we can’t turn a blind eye; we can’t hide in our cocoons of comfort; we can’t ignore our calls for humanity.

I reiterate: we need to see the suffering.

Otherwise, there will be no emotional reason for us to have any kind of response.

Emotion is triggered through experience. The closer the experience, the deeper the emotional feel. And the deeper the emotional feel, the more compassionate the response (I would hope).

We need to be the compassion for others that we so desperately wish was there for us (and our loved ones) when we were suffering.

And if you and your loved ones haven’t suffered all that much, then you are exactly the type of person who can stand to help others the most.

Open your eyes up to the world around you.

And respond with compassion.