I learned 3 life lessons from the dojo that have left an indelible mark on my life.

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When I was in my late 20s, the last thing I ever imagined I do is walk through the doors of a dojo and sign on the dotted line to become a karate student. But destiny called me towards those doors and into a place I’d soon come to call my second home. I use the word destiny loosely here because I’m not sure how many people might refer to a close call with a criminal and an alleyway a call to destiny. But I needed confidence and skills, and the dojo appeared when I needed it to appear. To me, that’s the definition of destiny.

My Journey to these Life Lessons

After committing to be a student, I stepped onto the sacred mats of that brightly colored dojo. I sported my new key in my new white belt, carrying both hope and trepidation for what would come.

Mentors

Mentors come in all forms. Mine just happened to come wearing a fifth degree black belt and a can-do attitude. His posture told me everything was going to be okay. No criminal was ever going to get the best of me again, if I could help it. And I believe my mentor would say the same thing still, to this day.

Here’s the thing about embracing the lessons of a mentor. They can teach us things quicker than we could ever learn them on our own. Because they’ve lived it. They have their finger on the pulse of certain aspects of life. And it’s our jobs as mentees to seek out that which they are willing to share. It’s been my experience that a mentor shows up when the student is ready. Well, I showed up that may afternoon, ready to learn what he was willing to share.

Life Lessons I Learned

Over the course of three years, and a rainbow of colors to add to my belt collection, my mentor sensei Carlos taught me three very important life lessons. I carry them with me to this day, some 20 years later. And I’m able to still carry them because I was open and eager to soak up his knowledge. He was living his life the way I wanted to. He lived with a healthy respect for self control. Everything about his great attitude reminded me how self control can serve us when we find ourselves in perilous situations.

The 1st of Life Lessons from the Dojo

First case in point was the day he taught me that practice doesn’t make perfect because we all need correction. Accepting that we are all in a state of learning and growth means we’re open to adapting. We adapt based on new knowledge we gain as we open to criticism. This concept has helped me throughout my career as a novelist and in my Toastmaster’s International Leadership and Communication journey.

The 2nd of Life Lessons from the Dojo

Second case in point was the day he taught me that relaxation is powerful. Before I met him, I went through life like I was one step away from an anxiety attack. He taught me how to sit still with myself. To use only my breath to root me to that moment at hand. To this day, whenever I feel pressured about life, I stop everything and find a safe place. I close my eyes and breathe. I’ve done this before meetings at work. I breathe before being interviewed. And I breathe like this before logging into my bi-weekly Toastmaster meetings when I have a speech to give.

The 3rd of Life Lessons from the Dojo

Third case in point was the day he reminded me that we’re never too old to start something new. When I took karate, I learned alongside men and women who are grandparents. And I learned along with those who just graduated from high school. Age was not relevant when one entered that sacred dojo. This life lesson he taught me rings especially close to home for me these days. You see, I just started a rigorous graduate program at 51 years of age. It’s been over 25 years since I’ve been to college as a student.

When I first thought about enrolling, I heard his voice in my head. His voice encouraged me to remember that I could be 90 years of age and still enroll in graduate school. It’s important to keep doing new things, and gaining new experiences, especially as we age. It keeps us flexible and dynamic. You can be 100 or 18, and still have incredibly valuable insights to share and gain. Age has very little to do with anything in life when it comes to learning.

I’ll forever be thankful to my mentor sensei Carlos for teaching me these three important life lessons. I’ll never again take for granted valuable criticism, the art of breathing, or my ability to learn new things. No matter how old I am! 

What about you?

What life lessons have you learned that still shape and guide you to this day?

Ever wonder what it would take to live your best life? To wake up in the morning and be excited to face the new day ahead?

Life coach extraordinaire, Natalie Miller-Snell, of NMS Coaching, came onto my podcast, CurvesWelcome, and shared her top tips for how you can get started living your best life. No matter what your new journey entails, you can live the life you deserve to live.

Listen on Curves Welcome Podcast Channel. 

Tips to Live Your Best Life

Understand Your Why.

When you know why you’re doing something, the motivation to continue doing it continues to build. When you feel lost, that why will help guide you back to that point where clarity of purpose exists.

Connect with People.

In today’s world, we’re more isolated. Many of us have lost that connection with folks. We have to find ways to reconnect because we’re a tribal species at heart. And, to move this point even further forward, connect with people who lift and encourage you. Seek people who are on the path or the direction that you want to go and learn from them.

Learn at every opportunity.

Look at the world as a classroom willing to teach you everything you want to know as long as you open your eyes to it.

Be Open and Flexible to Change to live your best life.

2020 has thrown so many curveballs. We’ve had to adapt and change to them. And this openness to bend with the curves will help keep us supple and able to deal with blows. We’ve all experienced massive changes this past year, and those who are coping well are the ones looking for the bright light behind the clouds. Every curve offers a lesson to get us to higher ground. But you’ve got to seek it.

Embrace the lessons in the highs and lows.

Life is full of highs and lows. There are lessons to be learned in both. When dealing with a low, it may feel like it’s never going to end. But realize this, everything is temporary in life. If you can get to a place where you can embrace the lessons that the highs and lows offer, you’ll find your way to middle ground, eventually. And once there, you’ll be able to glance around and realize how much you appreciate it. But without the highs and lows, you’d never fully appreciate the beauty in those rest stops along the way. If you stand on a hill for your whole life, you’re never going to appreciate the beauty that the valleys offer. The real power is, regardless where you find yourself, you need to seek the beauty of the lessons. It seldom comes to you unless you seek it.

Personal care is more than just hair and clothing upkeep. It involves a whole range of aspects from mental wellbeing to hygiene and your body. 

With the health and wellness industry expanding more and more each day, there is an abundance of new products that sell the experience of being well cared for. But, personal care is most effective and beneficial when you strip things back to basics. Everything from dental care to your diet is what you should focus on before your exterior. So today, you will discover how and why your personal care is crucial for good health. 

Regular Checkups

Checking in with your personal care is a crucial way of inhibiting any health issues. A quick call to your dental office or your doctor to book a checkup takes a matter of minutes and can help you combat any underlying problems. 

If you are ever concerned about your health, the best thing to do is seek advice. No good will come of leaving it alone and putting it to the back of your mind. Getting professional advice will alleviate stress and worry, as well as improve your health.

Reduce Stress

There are many ways to reduce stress and improve your mood, it is just about finding what works for you. Taking a walk outside in nature or sitting down to read a book are simple examples of activities you can try to lower your stress levels. 

People often find activities that require focus are a good distraction and helps to divert the mind from a stressful situation. 

Feed Your Mind, Body, And Skin

Getting enough essential nutrients to help restore balance, improve your mood, and increase energy. Feeding your gut nutritious foods will also benefit the mind, body, and skin. The vitamins and minerals that are stored in vegetables, lean proteins, fruits, nuts, and fiber are beneficial for reducing stress, skin conditions, and inflammation. 

There are many other benefits of nutritious foods, such as being more proactive. A calmer yet more energetic mind will result in being more productive. Eating a clean diet is an easy way to improve your personal care and achieve optimal health. 

Hygiene First

As much as it feels great to look good, your personal appearance does not reflect your health. Looking after your hair, body, gut, mind, and more provides benefits that appearance cannot. 

Simple yet effective ways to put hygiene first is ensuring you have a good skincare routine, get enough daily nutrients, and clean your hair, body, and hands regularly. Good upkeep of your hygiene can reduce the risk of health and skin conditions. 

Checking in with your personal care provides endless benefits. It can improve your mood, energy, and overall health with just a few simple lifestyle changes. Being more mindful of your daily routine, diet, and the last time you got a checkup is a starting place for improving your health. Ensuring you keep on top of your personal care will give you nothing but positive benefits for your health and wellbeing. 

Helping our elderly relatives deal with their as they age can be challenging. As we age, our overall health and wellbeing often begins to deteriorate with each year. It becomes harder and harder to take good care of ourselves. Issues such as immobility and poor memory can have a profound effect on our ability to stay independent.

Watching an elderly relative suffer through such a struggle can be difficult to bear. You’ll yearn to help them maintain good health for as long as possible to keep their presence in your life. Looking after an elderly relative needn’t be as complex as you might expect. There are a few key areas in which you can focus your efforts to ensure they can feel physically and mentally fit for as long as possible. So, if you would like to find out more, then read on to uncover some of the best tips and tricks that you can make the most of today!

A Good Diet Is Key 

When we reach a certain age, the act of visiting a grocery store to buy food, preparing and cooking a meal, and washing up your utensils afterward can become too much to bear. Whether this is due to boredom of repetition, poor memory, or a physical inability to do so, failing to consume a healthy, balanced diet can wreak havoc. It can have a knock on effect on almost every aspect of our mental and physical wellbeing. Making sure that you help your elderly relative to consume a nutritious, balanced diet can have a dramatic impact on the way that they feel. They can experience an increase in energy levels, improved sleep, and even fewer mood swings if they cut their sugar intake.

The best diet that any individual can pursue is one which is made up of natural whole foods, including complex carbohydrates, lean protein, and fresh fruit and vegetables. Saying goodbye to anything that appears over-processed or mass-manufactured is key.

A great way to support your elderly relative in eating well involves cooking up a few big batches of nutritious food. This can be as simple as chilli that can be frozen and reheated with ease. There are also many dedicated food delivery services that exist exclusively for the elderly, dropping off healthy meals right to their door for a real no-fuss approach. 

Staying Social 

As we age we may fall victim to increased isolation. It can become far more difficult to stay social when we aren’t particularly mobile or suffer from an ailment that affects our ability to stay both active and alert. Helping your elderly relative to stay social will provide them with a whole host of benefits. After all, being stuck indoors with nothing to keep them occupied for weeks on end can cause mental distress. Make an effort to visit them as much as you can. Bring other guests with you so that they get to experience a few different faces every now and then. Invite them out when feasible, perhaps for a spot of lunch or a slice of cake in the early afternoon. Make them feel valued and appreciated with these little moments.

Help With Healthcare 

Helping your elderly relative with their healthcare commitments will ensure they are styaing proactive. There are many side effects that come with aging. There’s also a wide variety of treatments and solutions that can help to relieve their discomfort. First of all, booking a visit with a hearing instrument specialist can help you to learn more about hearing aids and find out whether such an investment would be of benefit for your elderly relative. Experiencing any kind of hearing loss or deafness has a profound effect on quality of life. A simple hearing aid can solve all of their worries in one simple step. In addition, visiting opticians and eye care specialists will help your elderly relative to maintain good vision, further boosting their independence.

Helping elderly relatives take great care of their health has never been so simple. With just a few helpful actions, you’ll both feel a lot better about the future!

Here are some helpful tips to help you improve your hearing. Let’s face it, your hearing is vital to your health and wellness. It shouldn’t be overlooked. And these simple tips can keep them safe and healthly for a long time. Our hearing health is something many of us take for granted until it either starts to deteriorate slowly due to age or suddenly due to a single event or an illness. Keep reading to learn how you can protect yourself.

Keep The Volume Button On Low

Firstly, it’s a good idea to keep your volume button on low. It’s something that many of us are guilty of turning up. When you hear a good song on the radio or perhaps tune into a playlist while running, we tend to crank the volume. Although it’s great to turn up the volume to help with motivation or improving your mood, you should keep it at a safe level. A lot of these devices will have recommended guidance levels to make sure you’re not going over the decibels that will likely damage your ears.

It’s worth learning about noise levels and everyday sounds you might encounter. Try to keep your volume button on low and remember what number is a good setting to come back down to if you’ve turned it up on occasion.

Clean Your Ears With Care

Cleaning your ears is definitely important when it comes to your hearing. It’s essential that you maintain your ear hygiene so they won’t be prone to infections. When you leave water in your ear or get anything in there that could inflame the ear canal, it’s going to potentially cause lasting damage. The more ear infections you have, the more damage it could potentially do to the level of sound and noise you’ll be able to hear.

A lot of hearing-related problems are gradual, and so it’s not something you might notice suddenly. Keep in tune with your ears, especially when stepping out of the shower or going swimming. Under no circumstances, should you stick anything inside of them. Simply tilt your head to the side and dab with a towel to decrease the water in them. And seek the expertise of an ENT doctor to properly and safely clean impacted ears.

Get Your Hearing Checked Regularly

Hearing health is something that is worth getting checked out regularly. Usually, it’s worth getting your hearing checked at least once a year, and moreso if you feel like you may be experiencing any ear health issues. By getting them checked once a year, like other medical checks, you may be able to help with a problem earlier on. It’s best to catch something at the beginning than just leaving it and hoping that it won’t get any worse.

Consider Hearing Aids

Hearing aids aren’t what they used to be. They’re no longer these big, chunky eye-sores that many would have avoided out of embarrassment. You’ll be pleased to know that hearing aids now come in all shapes and sizes. From ones that are still like the traditional hearing aids and others that are so small, you can’t even see them unless you knew they were there. 

Don’t deny yourself clearer hearing. You can learn more and find resources for hearing aids online very easily nowadays.

Don’t Expose Yourself To Loud Environments Too Often

It’s important to not expose yourself to loud environments too often because this can be a big cause of hearing loss. It’s especially true for those who may work in loud environments and perhaps don’t wear protective gear. Protect your ears in loud environments by wearing earplugs or noise-canceling headphones. It’s better to be safe than sorry. You don’t want to lose your hearing from one singular event like a concert, for example.

Follow these tips to improve your hearing and to protect it from the dangers that might be out there threatening to damage the quality of your life.

Smiling regularly is the key to happiness. Okay, there are other factors to consider, but it’s incredible how effective baring your teeth is. Did you know smiling lowers your blood pressure, boosts your immune system, and elevates your mood? 

Most people don’t understand why it’s essential to smile. However, now that you do, all you have to think about is encouraging your face to do it more often. It’s not as if you’re grumpy; it’s more smiling is reflexive, so it’s hard to do purposely.

Thankfully, there are ways to trick your body into it, and they are outlined below.

Be Around People

You don’t smile when you’re on your own because you don’t interact. Sure, some people talk to themselves and others laugh at what they hear on the TV or radio, but it isn’t the same. Socializing instantly boosts your mood by motivating you to do something fun and exciting. As a result, the odds of smiling are much higher. Plus, your support group is people who make you laugh and feel love. So, by being around them, you’ll have extra opportunities to crack out your teeth when they say something caring or outrageous.

Smile At Strangers

Smiling at strangers seems quite serial killer-esque, especially if you live in a big city. You can imagine the looks small-town folks get in places like NYC and LA! Still, there’s nothing wrong with being respectful. This is particularly true when you make eye contact. Staring at someone is weirder than smiling at them. Therefore, if you do find yourself locking peepers with a total stranger, you can style it out by smiling. They usually return the favor, which makes everyone happy, and encourages you to try it more often.

Target Your Insecurities

Everybody has flaws, and it’s wrong to focus on every little thing that you believe is wrong with your appearance. What you dislike, other people will love. However, some issues play with your mental health to the point where you can’t ignore them and they hurt your self-esteem. In this case, it’s worth taking action. This is doubly true of men and women who don’t like their smile because a dentist can offer expert advice. Whether it’s cosmetic treatments or using a different toothpaste, you’ll love the image staring back at you in the mirror. As a result, you won’t be able to stop smiling!

Be Thankful

Being thankful is challenging when you don’t have an occasion to give thanks. Still, the fourth Thursday in November doesn’t have a monopoly on appreciation. Just leaving the house and going outside can make you aware of how fortunate you are, and why you should be happy and smiley. Studies prove that the sun and sea equal happiness. When times are tough, you can concentrate on the positives, such as your job, home, and family. Focusing on the negatives is tempting, but it will only drag you down. Focus on the positives to smile more and benefit from all the incredible advantages.

How will you regularly try and crack a smile?