Meditations on God

Responsibilities And Troubles
It is easier to relax if we have taken care of our responsibilities first.

This is not always the easy path to take.

Nor is it likely to be the most fun.

But, it is the path that is necessary for long-term success.

The problem we face is that we cannot see into the future.

We do not know how long we will have to toil before we can rest.

And, this, itself, can be exhausting.

There is no promise that our responsibilities will ever end.

What is certain, however, is that if we do not tend to our responsibilities now, not only will they not go away, but our troubles are sure to pile up on top of them.

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

Follow Robert Van Valkenburgh and Holistic Budo on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, and LinkedIn.

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December 31, 2020

duties, responsibilities, troubles
Human Connections
We all need positive human connections.

No matter how much we think we do not, or wish we did not, there is simply no way around this truth of our existence.

We are not meant to be alone, whether by choice or by circumstance.

We need others.

We need to feel as if we belong.

We need to feel as if we are needed and wanted.

We need to feel as if we are useful and contributive.

And, as much as we need this from others, others need this from us as well.

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

Follow Robert Van Valkenburgh and Holistic Budo on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, and LinkedIn.

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December 30, 2020

community, connection, relationships
Change The Future
We tend to treat others the way we have been treated.

But, it does not have to be this way.

We can break the cycle.

Once we recognize what is happening, we have a choice.

And, we have a responsibility.

We can change our future and the future of those we come into contact with.

We are not inextricably tied to or controlled by our past experiences.

Nor should those around us be either.

We must move forward with integrity, compassion, and intention so that we do not become that which we found undesirable, objectionable, or intolerable when we first experienced it.

It is up to us to create a better future for ourselves and for those we love.

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

Follow Robert Van Valkenburgh and Holistic Budo on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, and LinkedIn.

If you found this post helpful or meaningful in some way, please feel free to Share, Comment, and Subscribe below.
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December 29, 2020

change, choice, decisions, goals, improvement, relationships
Joy And Fear
Joy is what we seek.

But, we cannot experience joy if we do not have a sense of safety, security, and comfort in our lives.

Fear is the thief of our sense of safety.

Fear is the thief of sense of security.

Fear is the thief of sense of comfort.

Fear is the hinderer of joy.

Our only hope of experiencing joy is to face our fear, to move through it, and to overcome it.

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

Follow Robert Van Valkenburgh and Holistic Budo on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, and LinkedIn.

If you found this post helpful or meaningful in some way, please feel free to Share, Comment, and Subscribe below.
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December 28, 2020

comfort, fear, joy, safety, security
Time Leads Us Astray
We must be careful to not let time pull us away from our path.

It is easy to stray from our goals and our purpose.

There are limitless distractions and excuses available to us at all times.

If we are diligent, we are able to see most of these for what they are and will be able to avoid them or overcome them.

Time, however, has a way of sneaking up on us.

It gets past our defenses.

Time can pull us astray without us even knowing it is taking place.

This happens slowly and subtly until, one day, we realize that we are nowhere near where we set out to be.

Hopefully, by the time we realize this, it is not too late to correct our course.

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

Follow Robert Van Valkenburgh and Holistic Budo on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, and LinkedIn.

If you found this post helpful or meaningful in some way, please feel free to Share, Comment, and Subscribe below.
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December 27, 2020

goals, journey, path, purpose, time

Responsibilities And Troubles

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Human Connections

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Change The Future

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Joy And Fear

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Time Leads Us Astray

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