Hello all,
I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and a good few days off.
As you reflect back on this year, the things you are thankful for, the things you wish could change, the things that you feel didn’t go your way, I challenge you to find the good in the challenges. I’m not down playing anything that anyone may be dealing with – if that’s you – keep pushing and find those to confide in to help you.
Thank you all for being such great stewards of the academy, great students of the art and great teammates to your fellow students. This academy I hope will always be one that you know you will be supported, sometimes this means tough conversations and you hearing hard things, sometimes it will mean someone going the extra mile to help you without being asked, sometimes it will be someone just coming over giving you a warm embrace and telling you that they appreciate you, and others times you might need choked 🤪
As I look back, I’m astounded at the remarkable year you all had as a team. Your hard work, your dedication, your growth, your impact as a teammate, your ability to withstand pressure and learn.
We have seen some leave, we have experienced growth, we have watched, cheered and supported those competing – these are the things that TEAMMATES do, these are things that champions do – you all are remarkable in your own ways and some similar ways – Thank you for giving me the honor to be a small part of your lives and being able to watch you struggle, encourage you, watch you grow – nothing I can say will ever fully explain how incredible it is for me to be a part of such things.
We have seen ranks come up from white to blue, blue to purple – the way to know the culture, to know it’s healthy – is to see others achieve and those around them are not jealous, they are supportive, they stay encouraged, they become inspired themselves to stay the course. This is YOUR team, these are YOUR teammates – Thank you all.
Our kids from Bully awareness to weekly classes – your growth is something remarkable. Keep on and never quit – your shine will only grow as you continue the path of light. Thank you for keeping me on my toes and making laugh, asking questions, dancing to the tunes, enjoying the black light rolls etc. What an encouragement to others.
I could not do this alone – each of you play a crucial part, weather it be cleaning the mats, taking out the trash (even when not asked, and yes I see you), helping when you see someone new walk in to those that help me teach classes and cover for me when I need to take a few days off – with all I am – Thank you all. You never know who is watching and you never know who YOU are inspiring.
