The only difference between stumbling blocks and stepping stones is the way you use them.~American Proverb A few years ago, I was a volunteer at a local animal shelter. There was one dog there that I’ll never forget. Mica was a gorgeous black lab mix who lived in a kennel with a giant red sticker […]
Think about the last time you had to slam on your brakes when a car in front of you suddenly stopped. Have you ever walked around a corner, only to come face to face with a ferocious dog growling at you? Maybe its 2 o’clock in the morning and a loud noise wakes you from your
Fight, Flight, Freeze or Fawn – What’s Your Reaction? Read More »
My original thought/title for this blog was “Discipline Requires Sacrifice”. This thought caused me wonder if this is why people don’t have or exhibit discipline. In general, people don’t want to give up anything. We have been told we can have/do anything we want. Sacrifice isn’t mentioned. We aren’t always told we have to work
Discipline – A”D” word Read More »
In Part One, I wrote about the some of the frustrations of mothering. (The Next Generation) Specifically discussed were the behaviors of our children. Again, these thoughts may ruffle your feathers. I ask that you read the blog before shutting down and stop reading. Getting to the end may offer some solutions to relieve the
The Next Generation: Part Two Read More »
Ladies. I might ruffle a few feathers with this one but please, hear me out and read this blog in its entirety before you shut down and stop reading. It is my opinion that most parents are disappointed with the interactions with their children. The child’s lack of ability to listen and follow instructions, the
The Next Generation Read More »
Some new students or parents ask how long it will take to learn karate and be a black belt. This blog is for those who see the black belt as just any other degree, certificate or achievement stepping stone. Karate is more. Karate is a way of life. A life where you get to know
A Way of Life – Karate Read More »
Power of a Beginner? How can that be? They are a beginner afterall and don’t know anything. However, The Beginner’s Mind is such a wonderful thing! It is the first of the Five Minds – Shoshin. Everyone is in such a hurry to “master” techniques or any particular subject. They seldom take the time to
Power of Being A Beginner Read More »
Being social makes me nervous. I never quite know what’s going on because I can’t really ‘see’facial expressions or subtle body language. It’s a weird feeling, being there and not having all theclues I need to interpret social cues accurately. There is always uncertainty for me in every interaction I make with people. I make
To Be Here and Now Read More »
The Path is there. Will you follow it? This thought came up for discussion during a training session. This person was all over the place mentally. You can tell he was distracted. It has been a while since he was in the Dojo. The thought came up as he was trying to determine which way
Everyone has it. This Lazy Brain was “programmed” for survival purposes. As such it is very difficult to overcome. I can hear people thinking now: Is he calling us “lazy”? Yes, I am. And it is natural. What is lazy brain? What do I mean by “Lazy Brain”? Humans tend to go with what works.