Decreasing Stress, Encouragement, Karate, Learn to Appreciate, Motivational, Philosophy, Reader

What Will You Make of Today?

Today will be whatever you make it. Will it be any of these – relaxing, productive, adventurous, spirited, or exciting? There are many choices that you can make to create a memorable and joyful day. However, it is easy to choose the opposite of positive and memorable. Don’t go there! Don’t allow negativity, laziness, complacency,… Read More What Will You Make of Today?

Decreasing Stress, Encouragement, Karate, Learn to Appreciate, Motivational, Philosophy, Reader

Bad Things Happen to Good People

Bad things happen to good people. I think we all know that. I am no different. I have had my share of losses, difficulties, obstacles, regrets, worries, and fears. Human nature hands us this smorgasbord of experiences and within each recipe is room for error or unexpected situations. I’ve had miscarriages, fires at my home,… Read More Bad Things Happen to Good People

Decreasing Stress, Encouragement, Karate, Learn to Appreciate, Motivational, Philosophy, Reader

Find Your Purpose

It is easy to become complacent in life. The daily grind becomes, well…a grind. You begin to believe that life is made up of commitments, chores, and responsibilities. These things seem to suck your energy and time into a warp, never to be recovered again. It’s called life and adulthood and it is filled with… Read More Find Your Purpose

Decreasing Stress, Encouragement, Karate, Learn to Appreciate, Motivational, Philosophy, Reader

Terri Green – A Groovy Black Belt from the 1970’s

Terri Green began practicing martial arts as a teenager in the 1970’s. She decided to forego the traditional, expected lessons of sewing and cooking in exchange for semi-contact street fighting and a well-earned black belt. Now that’s pretty groovy. Here’s the link: https://anchor.fm/andrea-harkins/episodes/Terri-Green—A-Groovy-Black-Belt-from-the-1970s-ejtrsq Or, click below: Here is some information about me getting my black… Read More Terri Green – A Groovy Black Belt from the 1970’s

Decreasing Stress, Encouragement, Karate, Learn to Appreciate, Motivational, Philosophy, Reader

Who Are You?

Someone asked me recently, do you know who you are?  I provided the usual reply, “a mother, wife, martial artist, writer, friend…” blah, blah, blah. The truth is I didn’t take even a moment to think about it.  And, what I spewed so quickly are the roles I play, not really who I am.  No, to get… Read More Who Are You?

Decreasing Stress, Encouragement, Karate, Learn to Appreciate, Motivational, Philosophy, Reader

Using Focus to Achieve Success

Steps to Success  There are a lot of steps that you must take to succeed such as practice, knowledge, ability, perseverance, dedication, humility and diligence, to name a few. Success rarely just lands on your lap without these. But, there is one attribute that nearly encompasses all of these components in one swoop, and that… Read More Using Focus to Achieve Success

Decreasing Stress, Encouragement, Karate, Learn to Appreciate, Motivational, Philosophy, Reader

Life is a Complicated Kata

A kata is a choreographed set of martial art moves or techniques that simulate fighting  an attacker.  They are composed of blocks, kicks, punches, and stepping patterns.  When rehearsed over and over, they help you improve in your skills. Some people claim that a kata, or form,  is useless or no longer relevant. I believe… Read More Life is a Complicated Kata

Decreasing Stress, Encouragement, Karate, Learn to Appreciate, Motivational, Philosophy, Reader

The Art of Listening

Listen and Hear Sometimes the most profound things happen when we listen.  The first cry of a newborn or the last  breath of air exhaled at the end of a person’s life.   One breath.  That is all that holds us on the cusp between life and death.  My father suffered from Multiple Sclerosis since he… Read More The Art of Listening

Decreasing Stress, Encouragement, Karate, Learn to Appreciate, Motivational, Philosophy, Reader

Practice Happiness

I’m not sure how to tell you this. There is nothing in this entire world that can make you happy.  There is no person who can make you happy, not a spouse, lover, friend, father, mother, child, co-worker, minister, or acquaintance. It’s all up to you and it takes practice. Happiness doesn’t just happen.  That… Read More Practice Happiness

Decreasing Stress, Encouragement, Karate, Learn to Appreciate, Motivational, Philosophy, Reader

Five Ways to Overcome Negativity like a Martial Artist!

Martial artists are all positive people, right? They don’t have bad days or difficult obstacles because they practice a martial art, right? Surprise. Martial artists are just like every other person. They train and teach and keep the momentum, but that is not to say that they do not struggle like everyone else. The difference is… Read More Five Ways to Overcome Negativity like a Martial Artist!