As today is my birthday, I decided I’d give myself a gift (actually, I’m giving myself two gifts this year – but I’m waiting until next week to purchase the other gift and I might even talk about it here at some point). I’ve decided to go ahead and start this blog. There are many reasons, both business and personal, to do this. I’m doing this because I want to. I want to share my opinions and experiences of Tai Chi and the Martial Arts and how they’ve affected my life and those around me.

Since next week is Thanksgiving, I’d like to start my blog journey by giving thanks. Like any other holiday on the calendar, we all celebrate for our own reasons. We have our traditions that we practice each year and pass on to our children. Over the past few years, I’ve taken the time around Thanksgiving to give thanks and be grateful, not only for the people in my life, but also to where I am and what’s around me. We express our gratitude for our art and for all of our teachers in our lineage when we bow as we enter our kwoon. It’s this time of year that we should spread that gratitude to other areas of our lives.

Most of the time, my ruminations are internal, but this year I want to state my gratitude in a public forum. The following list is by no means complete, but does represent the major areas of my life.

I give thanks to my instructor, Master Eric Sbarge, for his knowledge and passion of the arts and being patient and giving of his time to help me be a better person, student, entrepreneur and instructor and creating an environment that encourages all of his students to do the same.

I give thanks to my wife, Maricris, for supporting me and believing in me while I work my passion: teaching the arts that I love, helping my students better their lives and building Lake Norman Tai Chi Center to be the best Martial Arts center in the area, even though it is not yet profitable.

I give thanks to my daughter, Jenna, for being the daughter that I’ve always imagined and for helping me see the world through child’s eyes once again.

I give thanks to my Kung Fu brothers and sisters at the Peaceful Dragon for inspiring me, teaching me, pushing me, supporting me and showing me what the spirit of Kung Fu is all about.

I give thanks to Grandmaster Ma for all that he has done for the Martial Arts and all of us students.

I give thanks to Great Grandmaster Chang Tung Sheng for being the role model all of us aspire to be.

I give thanks to all my students at The Hall of the White Snake for allowing me to share my passion with them and make me a better person for it and for helping me build Lake Norman Tai Chi Center as the premier Martial Arts center in the area.

Now, what are you thankful for?