Nature provides exceptions to every rule.

When I was young, I would daydream about my life as an adult. I designed a lifestyle where every decision was easy because everything was black and white.

Everything fit perfectly into their spots.

As I got older, I realized more and more that that’s not how life works. Not everything is black and white. You can’t jam a square peg into a round hole.

Not everything fits perfectly and certainly, not everything goes as planned.

This week’s message of the week is…

Nature provides exceptions to every rule.

Often in class, when learning kata, I’ll have people say “Oh, so you always block off of the front hand?” or “So I always punch with my left hand first?” and when they say that, I cringe and say…”Nope.”

One of the greatest stresses in peoples lives is trying to find ABSOLUTE. Trying to find something that is ALWAYS true and the reality is that those rules don’t exist.

To relieve that stress, you need some flexibility, you need to be able to roll with the punches, you need to be resilient and you need to be willing to change.

When you accept change, that things aren’t always going to work out, that they aren’t always going to go your way, you’re going to feel this massive weight lifted from your shoulders.

This week, as you go through the week, take a look at what’s bugging you and try to figure out this very simple question…

Is it me or them?

When you do that. When you ask yourself that question, you’ll hopefully realize that if it is you, you can change and if it’s them…you can’t change that and so YOU better change.

I look forward to seeing everyone on the mats this week.

To your success,

Michael