Reflections from an evening at Kindred.
Some moments remind us of what truly matters in life. They don’t come through grand gestures or extraordinary experiences, but through the simple, honest emotions of another human being.
Recently, I visited Kindred Protective Arts, a martial arts school in the Kansas City area where my colleague teaches. I attended a seminar on Filipino martial arts and hand-to-hand combat. It was a fascinating experience, but what stayed with me long after the session ended had very little to do with martial arts.
It was a conversation about life, loss, and the people who make our lives meaningful.
A Moment of Vulnerability
As the session drew to a close, my colleague, who is also the school’s Grandmaster, began talking about the people he had lost throughout his life.
He spoke about the teachers he had learned from and the people he had cared deeply about. Some of those he had always hoped to see again had passed away only recently. Others were people he had wanted to meet but now never would.
As he spoke, he began to cry.
It was the first time I had ever seen him cry, and witnessing that moment hit me hard. It made me realize how fragile life really is. People who are part of our everyday lives can suddenly become memories, and the conversations we assume we’ll have someday sometimes never happen.
Perhaps the most painful part of losing someone is knowing that all the little things we once took for granted — a conversation, a hug, a chance to say hello — are no longer possible.
The Lesson
The biggest lesson I took away from that evening was a simple one:
Life is relationships.
In the end, we remember the people who stood beside us when things were difficult. The friends who made ordinary days extraordinary. The family members who supported us when we had nothing to offer in return.
One of my favourite artists once said:
“Professional goals are temporary; they can be attempted tomorrow. But personal loss is permanent.”
Relationships give meaning to our experiences. They turn achievements into shared celebrations, hardships into burdens we carry together, and ordinary days into memories worth keeping.
Being Intentional
I left that seminar thinking about how much more intentional we should be about nurturing our relationships.
- Call your parents.
- Ask your friends how they are really doing.
- Reach out to someone you haven’t spoken to in years.
- Visit the people you keep promising to see.
- Give someone a hug. Tell someone you appreciate them.
- Listen when they speak. Show up when they need you.
- Apologize when you are wrong.
- Make time for the people who matter, even when life gets busy.
And don’t wait for a special occasion to show your affection. Sometimes the most meaningful thing you can do is simply say hello.
Love and friendship aren’t sustained by feelings alone. They’re sustained by the small things we choose to do for one another, again and again.
A Small Request
If someone came to mind while you were reading this, reach out to them. Send that message. Make that call. Plan that visit.
Life is relationships. Protect them, nurture them, and let the people you care about know that they matter to you.
That is what makes this journey beautiful. That is what makes life worth living.
A Note on Kindred Protective Arts
If you’re in the Kansas City area and interested in martial arts, I highly recommend Kindred Protective Arts in Gladstone, Missouri. The school specializes in Filipino martial arts, including Presas Arnis and Modern Arnis (Arnis is also known as Eskrima or Kali).
I had a wonderful experience at their seminar, and the welcoming community made it all the more memorable.
- Website: kindredprotects.com
- Instagram: @kindredprotects