I found this photo of myself from around the time of my first karate school…
I was a brand new black belt…I was young….and under a lot of pressure to be “tough.”
Most of my female comrades can understand…in a mainly male dominated field….you couldn’t even gain the respect of your own male students…unless you were tough.
Then life really kicked in….and having to be tough took on a whole new meaning.
…..I wasn’t so tough…I was more scared than anything else.
I then gained the understanding in the difference between being tough….and having strength.
Anybody can be tough….but having strength comes from a place much deeper…..
Strength means you’ll do the right thing even when you don’t feel like it…
Strength means you’ll sacrifice for the greater good…
Strength means you are even willing to stand alone if you have to.
Today…I have 5 more black belts from where I sat taking that picture (this post from 2017)….
Through the many changes and hard knocks in my life…I cannot complain.
…because it’s my strength that has molded me to be the Master Instructor I am today.
