This post is a little different from the usual.

I woke up this morning thinking about what I could do to keep moving this school forward. Almost immediately, a voice in the back of my head chimed in: “Just stay in bed. Take it easy.”

But I got up anyway and went through my morning routine. On the way to the dog park to let my pups burn off some energy, I was reminded of a thought shared by both Marcus Aurelius and Steven Pressfield: you have to find contentment in the path you’ve chosen.

So I asked myself: What do I really want?
Not what brings money—what brings purpose?

I want to teach martial arts.

And the thing is… I am teaching martial arts. And I’m happy doing it.

I have to remind myself that happiness doesn’t come from the bank account—it comes from doing what matters. I’m learning, creating, and sharing that journey with others. That’s meaningful.

Sure, it’d be nice if I didn’t have to do all the “manual labor” of building this business both online and in person. But if I don’t put in that effort, why should the universe offer anything back?

Opportunity doesn’t come knocking.
But if you walk out the door and meet it halfway—it often shows up.

“If you wait for opportunity to knock, it never will. But if you move to meet opportunity in the street, it’ll meet you halfway.”
—Unknown