My Journey to Nidan

After recently receiving my Second Degree (Nidan) Black Belt from Sensei Norman Beck (an honor that I am both proud of and humbled by), I wanted to take a look back and reflect on that journey in a very technical way.  I decided to sit and make a list of all of the various kata, forms, and drills that I've learned and worked through over the years, including the 7 new forms of which I have had the honor of being part of their creation over my past two years of training in the way of Kosei-Ryu Bu-Jutsu.

My Black Belt Journey

It is said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. I've taken that single step multiple times in my life. Each time, the journey made me a little smarter, a little stronger, and a little more humble in the person that I know myself to be. My journey in the martial arts is no different... as a matter of fact, it has played a huge role in my journey through life.

The following is a brief writing of that journey...

What is the Meaning of This!?

On the heels of completing my second writing assignment from Sensei Norman Beck of Zen Bu Kai Martial Arts comes this blog version of my essay.

In this assignment, we were given two quotes to absorb and interpret.  The actual task at hand is to explain the meaning of each of these quotes in our own words; delving deeply into the thoughts and emotions that each of them elicit from our own experiences.  There is no correct answer so long as an honest answer is given.

Life

At some point in our existence, we all find time to contemplate the meaning of our own lives. We ask ourselves questions like: Am I doing the right thing? Am I spending enough time with the people that are truly important to me? Am I a good husband, wife, father, mother, son, daughter, friend, etc.? Have the decisions that I've made in my life brought me to a place that I'm happy with? Of all the things that I am living for, are any of them worth dying for?

Life, is one of those things that we all experience, but rarely every really understand through our own eyes.

With that in mind, I decided that today, I'd take some time to try to see life through others' eyes.

Telecommuting: Is it better to work from home?

Think about your work environment. Now take a look at the picture to the right and think about how much more work you could get done if that was your desk; at your home. Would your stress be reduced? Would you be able to focus more on the projects you're working on? Would the elimination of typical "office" distractions actually allow you to become a better employee to your company? Obviously, this is from an office-type job(like mine) perspective.

If you've answered yes to those questions, then it's very possible that telecommuting is perfect for you. However, is it also perfect for your employer? This debate has gone on for years in many corporations that seem to have a hard time letting go of their old-fashioned beliefs that are based around the "perception is reality" philosophy.

Compassion

So today, I take a look at "Compassion". With the changing of the guard, so to speak, of this week's Presidential Inauguration and all of the changes taking place in Governmental Office as a result, I think that compassion is a fitting topic of choice.

"Compassion is the basis of morality."
-- Arnold Schopenhauer

"The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government."
-- Thomas Jefferson

"Never apologize for showing feeling. When you do so, you apologize for the truth."
-- Benjamin Disraeli