It is always important to keep life in perspective when events sometimes seem like they are playing against us. No one has a life where everything goes our way. And if it did, how boring would that be!?!? Regardless though, the best we can do is take things as they come and make the best of them. Whenever something bad seems to happen to me, I always ask myself “what would i tell my students or someone else?”
In this case, it has been a pleasure to see so many good things come around over the past few weeks. One of them being this past weeks art show. This is the second year of this (hopefully) annual event and this years went well beyond expectations. The two young individuals responsible for this event are our very own Jackson, and his sister Ella. Jackson and his family are soon moving out of Maryland to take on new challenges and experiences. Jackson has been with us for nearly three years and it has been a joy of ours to see the progression he has made over that time. His family has always been a supporting foundation of our school as far as their support for what we stand for and what we are doing. While we will continue to build on this relationship, and hopefully train with Jackson in the future, we still wanted to put something together to show him and his family how much we appreciate their support over these pat years.
~Mr. Doug
June Announcments
The following dates are important for the Month of June.
- June 2 All students may begin wearing BLS T-shirts to class. I would ask all students to please wear them inside their uniform pants with their belts.
- June 6 & 7 Jackson & Ella Art Show Please bring your childs art to the show and then attend on Friday or Saturday. Entrance Fee is $10 per family and $5 per piece of art. All proceeds will go to the Severna Park Assistance Network. There will be no Open Mat on June 6.
- June 14 Belt Testing
- 5/6 year olds 10 AM
- 7/8 year olds 11:30 AM
- 9 – 12 @ 1 PM
- June 16 starts the Summer Schedule
Farmer’s Markets
This past month, my wife and I have been visiting and doing our major grocery shopping at markets around the area. This past week with the new market in downtown Annapolis, I thought it would be a good idea to show some photos of this market and encourage everyone to come out and support our local farmers. Over the next few weeks I will highlight some of the markets and its vendors.
When we buy locally produced food there are many advantages, including the amount of fuel that is spent getting food to our markets. I have been very impressed with the quality of the food and of course the freshness of everything. Karen & I go down to the market in DC at Dupont Circle where we can even get milk and some other pretty amazing things. I will share that market with you later.
But the Annapolis Market, though small right now, has some of the same producers that the big market has. This week besides the tomaotes, asparagus, and other vegetables and greens we were able to get, we have enjoyed a great quiche, and empanadas. Here are some photos from Annapolis. By the way I am working on a school trip to a local farm. My understanding is that we will get to meet the farmers and then we will have a meal prepared for us to enjoy from all the fresh ingredients from the farm. How cool is that?
Here is a link to the group that runs the market in Annapolis. Fresh Farm Market
Facing difficulties
Just this morning as I checked my email I received this message in part from one of my mentors. I could not believe how fitting it was for me at this time.
There’s a great reason not to be anxious about the difficulty you’re facing today – it contains a lesson. And once you master it, you will be much stronger and wiser.
Emmet Fox, wrote, “It is the Law that any difficulties that can come to you at any time, no matter what they are, must be exactly what you need most at the moment, to enable you to take the next step forward by overcoming them. The only real misfortune, the only real tragedy, comes when we suffer without learning the lesson.”
“No person can be confronted with a difficulty which he has not the strength to meet and subdue… Every difficulty can be overcome if rightly dealt with; anxiety is, therefore, unnecessary. The task which cannot be overcome ceases to be a difficulty and becomes an impossibility… and there is only one way of dealing with an impossibility – namely to submit to it.”
— James Schuller
James Schuller’s words are so incredibly penetrating on this subject because he’s basically saying that there’s no problem that we should be anxious about. We can either solve it or it’s impossible to solve. Kind of reminds you of the Serenity Prayer doesn’t it? “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and the Wisdom to know the difference.”
I have said to Mr. Doug on several occaisions over the last week – this is our test – Let us together show what it means to be a black belt. Thank you to everyone who has shown us support this past week.
Honesty
Young students:
“I show and tell the truth!”
Older students, teens, adults:
Honesty means being straightforward and truthful in words and in actions
BLS email is down
Our email is down temporarily. For the time please click below and you will be able to reach Mr. Joe.
Email: Balanced Life Skills