“I would have been more successful if I had given more of myself to my career, but I was only willing to give about 70%. The rest I gave to my family and to hunting, fishing, and playing music.” -My Grandfather
The things our elders tell us, whether they know it or not, affect us and shape us. This simple statement, which I have heard from my grandfather many times over the course of my life, gave me permission to seek a balance between my work and my personal life. That balance is not always easy to find, but I know that it is okay to only give other people so much of my time, energy, and dedication before saying, “Sorry, but no more. The rest is for me and the people I care about most.”
-Robert Van Valkenburgh teaches Taikyoku Budo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Kogen Dojo