Congratulations, David

Congratulations to my Taekwondo student, David, age 12, who successfully tested for Black Belt this Saturday. It was satisfying to watch as he performed his Black Belt test with its 10 forms, 30 different kicks (4 times each), and 17 pre-arranged sparring combinations, plus free-sparring against his fellow Black Belt candidates.

He's enthusiastic to continue the journey.

It's Interesting

When presented with options it's interesting to see what choices the people make.

-- Roger Willis Mitchell, Sr., Trooper Tales: Plus Other Bizarre, Odd and Funny Stories (2003), p. 30

Choice

Choice consists of the mental process of judging the merits of multiple options and selecting one of them.  While a choice can be made between imagined options ("what would I do if ...?"), often a choice is made between real options, and followed by the corresponding action.

-- Definition of "Choice" provided in WikiQuote's page of quotes on "Choice"

Nostalgia

Nostalgia -- because everything about the past is perfect, except how it led to the present.

-- Homer Simpson, attributed

Nobler Art

Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is a nobler art of leaving things undone.  The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials.

-- Lin Yutang (1895 - 1976), Chinese writer and translator, The Importance of Living (1937) p. 162

We Do Not Need

We do not need presidents who are bigger than the country, but rather ones who speak for it and support it.

-- Eugene McCarthy (1916 - 2005) American politician, poet, and 22-year member of the US Congress (D-MN), The New York Times (11 December 2005)

Limitless

We are not just guides; we are trailblazers.  Let this be a call to every Sherpa to see the dignity in our work, the power in our heritage, and the limitless possibilities in our future.

-- Nima Rinji Sherpa, 18, standing atop Tibet's Mount Shishapangma as the youngest person to have scaled all 14 mountains that the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UIAA) recognises as more than 8,000 metres above sea level, 9 October 2024.  The previous record holder is Mingma Gyabu 'David' Sherpa, who achieved it at the age of 30 in 2019