There are no instructions for life. We create life, it’s open to our imagination, and our determination. In life we learn by our experiences, our achievements and our mistakes. I don’t regret my choices, because even those that were mistakes, they helped teach me and helped me grow into the person that I am now.

One of the hardest things to do, I learned you can’t be afraid of the unknown. If you fear the unknown, you aren’t open to all the possibility and potential that you can achieve. You have to embrace the unknown for all the opportunity it brings you. You have to trust yourself, the people you love, and the universe.

In literature I learned love was selfish, but now I see it differently. Real love is not selfish, it’s not about you at all, it doesn’t hurt, it’s only full of light. It’s hard to explain in words because it’s so much a feeling. And when you make it about the person you feel love in their happiness. Hopefully that makes some sense.

I learned when you focus all of your energy into training or into something intense, it frees you from everything, stress, emotions, pressures, challenges from the day, and when you let go and become in that neutral state you find your sanctuary wherever you are because it’s in your heart.

Be neutral in situations, don’t let emotion dictate because it clouds your vision, and then you don’t see the opportunities that are created in every situation. The monks make it sound easy.

Life is full of bittersweet events, it’s hardest when it involves the people you love. I didn’t know how to feel, happy or sad. But today I learned that it’s important to be happy and celebrate the positive, and remember that it’s about positive growth and change in life. I learned you need to be neutral–to care without caring as the monks say. You can’t focus on your care for them which makes you sad, but focus on your care for their happiness, which makes you smile.

I was reminded today of the importance of listening. Often we’re so into our own thoughts or thinking of ourselves and what we want someone to do, that we don’t really hear why they feel the way they do. It’s not just about listening to their actual words, but listening to their feelings. The better you understand why they made their choice, the better you can influence them positively, to be their best.

I’m reminded of how grateful I am for all the love and support that everyone shows me. We forget sometimes how many people are there for us. And as much as I love to do things on my own, I am grateful for all the help, support and love that my family, instructors, teachers, and friends give me to help me grow to become my best.

I realized this today and it wasn’t easy to accept. Sometimes things happen that are just seem random and you wonder why it happened to you it seems crazy and unnecessary. And as hard as it is to accept now, I can always learn from the things that happen, good or bad, and in the future I’ll look back and understand there was a reason it happened.

Sometimes events don’t hit you until a day or two later. And when you’ve had a habit for years that’s now broken it feels strange at first. But it’s all about positive growth and change, and that’s why even though it may feel strange at first, it’s important to allow change, you have to grow to become your best.