Meditations on God

Look For The Light (And Create It Where It Does Not Exist)
The artist sees the light where there may otherwise be none and, when there is no light to see, they create it.

One of the reasons that the arts are so important for our children is because, in difficult times, the people we turn to and count on to lead us through are not those who who follow instructions the best, but those who come up with creative solutions, who think outside the box, and who can imagine and manifest a future that was previously thought impossible. When faced with uncommon problems, we need uncommon solutions. We need creativity, imagination, and vision.

The arts may not be the answer to all of the world’s problems, but they are a compliment to all other skills. The arts teach us that we have the ability to bring our imaginations to life, to envision something new and beautiful, and to draw it, paint it, compose it, play it, write it, or even cook it. And, the arts teach us how to work within constraints, to use a limited palette, to stay within a specific style, to utilize a certain number of ingredients, and to use those constraints to make something beautiful, moving, and perhaps even life changing.

Studying the arts teaches us not only to look at beauty, but to look for beauty, even in the ugliest of places, circumstances, or experiences. Beyond that, the arts teach us, that when there is no beauty to be found, we have the ability to create it for ourselves and, ultimately, to share it with others. Within every scientific, mathematical, medicinal, or technical innovation or advancement is a little bit, or perhaps a lot, of art and creativity.

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 Taikyoku Mind & Body and Kogen Dojo where he teaches Taikyoku Budo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

All photos by Robert Van Valkenburgh unless otherwise noted.

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April 14, 2020

art, artist, artistic, beauty, creative, creativity, innovation, life, optimism, solutions
The Power of Positive Community
“The secret to change and growth is not willpower or goalsetting, but positive community.”
—Neil Strauss

The process of growth and change is not always easy nor are we likely to be comfortable as we move through it. In fact, improvement is nearly always difficult. It is challenging and it is sometimes even painful, but that is why we need each other.

If we truly want to improve, if we want to grow and be better than we were yesterday, we need to be challenged and we need to be pushed. We need others to hold us accountable and to see past our present limitations to the possibility of who we can be, who we are destined to be. In order for us to live up to our true potential, we need a community of people who are working toward the same goal.

Growth does not happen in a vacuum, nor does it happen in isolation. If we want to be better, we need to surround ourselves with people who want us to be better, who push us to be better, and who give us the opportunity to be better. No one else can do the work for us, but a positive community can give us the courage, the motivation, and the will to do it for ourselves when we otherwise might quit.

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 Taikyoku Mind & Body and Kogen Dojo where he teaches Taikyoku Budo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

All photos by Robert Van Valkenburgh unless otherwise noted.

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April 13, 2020

achievement, change, community, encouragement, fellowship, growth, improvement, Inspiration
Inward And Onward
There is no way to know where we are headed if we are constantly looking sideways.

With the ubiquitous nature of social media in our lives, it is easier than ever to compare ourselves and our lives to others, to look at them, or at least what they project and to feel like we are in a competition for fulfillment, for experiences, and for wealth, material or otherwise. This is a problem as old as time, but it has amplified in recent years in both degree and frequency. What we forget when we look around is that success is relative, not to who others are and what they have, but to who we are and who we want to be.

Contentment, whether with regards to success, wealth, or trajectory, is the result of alignment, not comparison. When what we have and how we are living is in alignment with our values, only then can we be content with who we are and where we are headed. We must, therefore, look inward in order to look forward.

If we do not know ourselves, our preferences, and our values, we cannot possibly know our true bearing and we will be perpetually lost, distracted, and pulled in every direction but forward by what we see others doing and accumulating. Knowing who we are, what we like, and what we value allows us to know who we are not, what we do not like, and what has no real meaning to us in terms of our own happiness or fulfillment. Of course, we must remain open to new experiences and new opportunities, but we should look inward to know if they are right for us, if they have value in our lives, and if they will help or hinder us in becoming who we want or are meant to be.

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 Taikyoku Mind & Body and Kogen Dojo where he teaches Taikyoku Budo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

All photos by Robert Van Valkenburgh unless otherwise noted.

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April 12, 2020

bearing, comparison, contemplation, contentment, fulfillment, grace, guidance, introspection, look inward, meditation, perspective, values, vision
Sunny Is Winning
“Sunny is winning.”
—My Daughter

The other day, my daughter’s school dropped off materials for her to work on while we are at home. One of the things they gave her was a ‘weather chart’ she can use to track the weather from day to day. Of all of the activities in her kit, she was immediately drawn to this one and began filling it out.

The chart includes a column for sunny, cloudy, partially sunny, rainy, and one for snow, and, after a few days of tracking the weather, my daughter added an extra column for foggy, just in case. Every day, this gives us an excuse to go outside and to talk about the weather. It’s a quick, fun way to spend time and learn together.

This morning, I was writing and I was having trouble getting started, mainly because I woke up later than normal. I knew that I wanted to write about the power of generosity as a tool for improving our individual and collective lives, but I was stuck as to the exact direction the post would take. Then, as I struggled, my daughter came to me with her weather chart, showed it to me, and said, “Look. Sunny is winning.”

There is a lesson there for all of us.

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 Taikyoku Mind & Body and Kogen Dojo where he teaches Taikyoku Budo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

All photos by Robert Van Valkenburgh unless otherwise noted.

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April 11, 2020

improvement, look on the bright side, optimism, positivity, silver lining, sunny days, sunshine
Checklist For A Full And Fulfilling Day
What can we do today to promote mental, physical, and emotional health and well-being for ourselves and those around us?

With more time on our hands than usual lately, many of us are thinking about what an ideal, productive, and healthy day can and should look like. Here are some general guidelines, a checklist if you will, for a pretty full and fulfilling day. This is intended only to be helpful and can be adapted based on individual needs and circumstances (family, work, ability, etc.) and, obviously, as with all ideals, the goal is incremental progress and consistency through practice, not immediate perfection.
- For The Mind
  - Meditate – Sitting, Standing, Moving, Silent, Guided, or Using an App such as Calm, Headspace, or Waking Up
  - Create/Practice Something – Write, Paint, Draw, Compose, Cook, Play, Film, etc.
  - Learn Something – Books, Audiobooks, Kindle, Podcasts, Ted Talks, Online Courses, etc.
  - Build Something – For Your Home, For Your Kids, For Your Spouse, For Your Business, etc.
- For The Body*
  - Move – Walk, Run, Bike, Yoga, Qigong, Tai Chi, Martial Arts, etc.
  - Push Something – Push Ups, Bench Press, Dips, Overhead Press, etc.
  - Pull Something – Pull Ups, Chin Ups, Rows, Curls, etc
  - Squat Something – Bodyweight Squats, Back Squats, Front Squats, Goblet Squats, Lunges, etc.
  - Hinge Something – Deadlifts, Kettlebell Swings, Tire Flips, Clean, Snatch, etc.
  - Carry Something – Farmer Carry, Front Rack Carry, Goblet Carry, Overhead Carry, etc.
- For The Community
  - Cook Something – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks, etc. Make it up, Follow a Recipe, Watch a Video, etc. (see also: Learn Something above)
  - Teach Something – Kindness, Reading, Writing, Math, Science, Martial Arts, Yoga, Investing, or whatever you have to offer to whoever is willing and in need
  - Give Something – A Hug, A Smile, A Phone Call, A Meal, A Kind Word, A Book, etc.
  - Express Gratitude For Something – Waking Up, The Sunshine, The Rain, Family, Job, Health, etc.
- Repeat as Necessary & to the Best of Your Ability
*Disclaimer: Always consult your physician before beginning any exercise program. This general information is not intended to diagnose any medical condition or to replace your healthcare professional. Consult with your healthcare professional to design an appropriate exercise prescription. If you experience any pain or difficulty with these exercises, stop and consult your healthcare provider.

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 Taikyoku Mind & Body and Kogen Dojo where he teaches Taikyoku Budo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

All photos by Robert Van Valkenburgh unless otherwise noted.

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April 10, 2020

building, creating, exercise, fulfillment, give, giving, gratitude, health, helping others, holistic, improvement, learn, learning, move, movement, moving, self help, teach, teaching

Look For The Light (And Create It Where It Does Not Exist)

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The Power of Positive Community

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Inward And Onward

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Sunny Is Winning

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Checklist For A Full And Fulfilling Day

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