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Holistic Budo: The Writings of Robert Van Valkenburgh

Holistic Budo: The Writings of Robert Van Valkenburgh

As in Life, so too in Budo. As in Budo, so too in Life.

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Category: The Way of Coffee

A Baseline Of Quality Over Convenience

I started my day today grinding this up and brewing a cup, realizing how much I enjoyed being in Australia. Not only was it great taking a family trip and spending time with my sister-in-law there, but I learned a lot about how much of a difference culture makes on character. In general, at least…

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Slowing Down To A Healthier Normal

With everything going on, with the drastic schedule change, and the abrupt halt put on my day-to-day ‘hustle’ (hipster entrepreneur speak for not being able to prioritize and focus on what is essential), I have had to reduce my coffee intake. A few days at home made me realize that I was ‘running hot’ everyday…

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One Single Act of Kindess

What if your act of kindness is the only one another person experiences today? For several years, I worked as a barista at a coffee shop by the water in downtown Annapolis, MD. We had a lot of regulars every morning, some more awake and happy to be there than others. I did my best…

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Deliver Your Gift with a Hug and a Smile

It’s not always about your gift. It’s about how you present it to the world. Many years ago, when I was a technician for a large, corporate coffee company, I sat down with my supervisor to discuss a potential promotion. Another technician already had the position I wanted, but I made the case for why…

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It Is All A Matter of Taste

Taste is a process of paring down. For the past twenty plus years, I have worked in and around coffee shops. I have held every position from barista to manager to espresso-machine technician. In all of that time, I have tried nearly every kind of coffee-drink combination a person can imagine. I tried different syrup,…

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