We will say and do things we wish we had not, that we do not want to define the impact we make on the world, and which we wish we could unsay and undo.
Each of us is imperfect.
We will make mistakes.
We all fail to live up to our ideals, to meet our own standards for ourselves, and we certainly fall short of the expectations other have for us.
Sometimes, this is a matter of the ideals, standards, and expectations set for us by ourselves and others being unrealistic and unattainable.
Other times, however, we are simply wrong.
When we are wrong, it is up to us to make it right, quickly and directly.
We must take ownership of our mistakes, be accountable for our words and actions, and not make excuses or give unhelpful explanations.
While we can do our best to amend our wrongs, if we repeat the same errors over and again, our amends are for naught.
Our goal must be to do better, to correct our behavior, and to be the person, from this moment forward, that we failed to be in the past.
Holistic Budo: As it is in budo, so too it is in life. As it is in life, so too it is in budo.
Robert Van Valkenburgh is co-founder of Kogen Dojo Self Defense Academy where he teaches Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
All photos by Robert Van Valkenburgh unless otherwise noted.*
*Robert Van Valkenburgh’s black and white photography can be seen at My Darkness To Light
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