Spring in Michigan

Wishing it was Spring here in Michigan! The robins are hopping and flying about, I even saw a nest of baby robins tucked underneath our swimming pool deck. The weather, on the other hand, is certianly not cooperating. It seems like the lilac bushes have already bloomed and are now ready for a long summer without flowers..... but they have been tricked! The weather is now only in the low 40's making the spring blooms seem like they were here years ago.

Springtime in Michigan is a great time to begin a new sport or activity. Lots of families are looking for an activity that will appeal to their children. Well, how about an activity that the whole family can participate in? I'm talking about martial arts. This is one of the only fitness/physical activities that the entire family can do together. Martial arts classes are based on skill level, not age level. So, the "playing field" becomes open for everyone in the family. One of the greatest joys that I have experienced has been watching a father and daughter get promoted to black belt together.

Whether you're five, fifteen, or fifty, there is something in martial arts for all of you. The five year old may enjoy recreating the moves from his favorite cartoon character, while unknowingly learning about self-discipline. The fifteen year old will certianly enjoy the thrill of participating in tournaments, but also learn about perseverance. At fifty years old, a martial artist will be amazed at his own endurance, while making new relationships with firends of all ages, and most importantly his own family members.

If you're a Michigander and live near the Redford Karate School, stop in and say hello. Watch a few classes and take a look at the faces on our families of martial artists. They are faces full of fun, laughter, respect, and new found abilities. You may just find a new activity that you will want to introduce to your family. After all, it is springtime here in Michigan.

Being Your Own Boss

Owning and running our own Tang Soo Do school has been a dream come true for myself and my family. It's been a great adventure, and the best part is the fact that we are our own boss.

Being your own boss is not easy! You must always motivate yourself, and make yourself go to work - but it's nice when you get to work because you are the boss that greets you when you get there.

Because we own our own business, we do get to spend a lot of time with our family members. My husband and I cringe when we think back to when we had traditional jobs. Rude coworkers, mean bosses, and inadequate owners. It was so hard for both of us to justify spending more time with these other people than with our own children. We both knew we couldn't survive working for someone else for very long.

Spending time with our family is the most important priority in our lives. When we began to consider starting our own karate school, I remember saying to each other, "This is going to work out somehow!" We just knew that this was the path that God had was leading us toward. We just had to put our faith in Him as always, and trust God to bless us with what we needed.

Everything has worked out on a positive note, and we are happier than ever. We never miss the rat race, or the mean people we used to work for.

Always follow your dream. If you can dream the possibility, you can achieve the possibility.