As I was about to pull out of 14 Farber Road to attend the first PAMA classes at the new location, I started to tear up. Those tears were quickly replaced with a chuckle as our daughter, also a Beatles fan, began humming the oh so fitting tune… What goes on in your heart, what goes on in your mind.
To provide some perspective, I left my parents house when I was 17, this week I departed 14 Farber Road for the last time just short of 16 of my adult years. Comparable to when I moved out of my parents’ house I don’t have reservations that it was the proper decision but a piece of my heart, rightfully so, is subject to be tugged by those memories.
Looking back, the events and emotions that took place within those walls will far greater exceed the physical necessity for the building but, after all, I literally grew up in that martial arts haven. Like many who have joined Princeton Academy of Martial Arts (PAMA) over the years, I entered naïvely having never explored the deeper depths of my soul. Martial Arts, if practiced in a mindful, spiritual practice will chew up your ego and spit you out. That is why many people could not handle the intensity of Sifu Rick and the training. I am a strong-willed person and back in the day he made me cry several times (not in public mind you). Although I came back, many times I saw others leave and not return because the training can mirror back to you deep fears and shatter images one has and cannot bear to scrutinize. But for me, after going through some personal life trials, it was time to be real with myself.
The importance of Martial Arts, on the deeper level as it is trained at PAMA, is about truly examining and knowing yourself, not your enemies or perceived enemies. Martial arts took on a significant role my life, being drawn closer to it while many internal transformations took place that prompted me to change my world. PAMA was my sanctuary and many times I found refuge within those walls, especially when I felt that the outside world could not comprehend what revolutions were going on within.
Through the years, I have been blessed with many close friendships and lots of love from my fellow training partners, instructors, and my students. Many memorable people, to many to mention, have stood with me as I experienced blood and sweat, broken bones and lifted spirits. I thank each of them for their support, camaraderie, and laughs. Of course fate and our love for Martial Arts brought Rick and I together many years ago and ironically, together made the choice to sell the business and take the next step of our journey elsewhere.
If someone had asked me 16 years ago, where I thought martial arts could lead me I would have never been able to imagine my place in the world today as a Martial Artist and a Warrior. I am enthralled that I found martial arts and ecstatic that I found myself. As our new journey now truly begins, we welcome it with arms wide open and with the Warriors’ approach saying “YES!” to life and the path ahead.
STAY TUNED!
Living Wherever We Are 