Participation

Attendance

“Enthusiasm is the electricity of life. How do you get it?
You act enthusiastic until you make it a habit.” - Gordon Parks

Attendance is the canary in your coal mine. Great people became great by keeping it healthy.

The more you come to class the better you get. The better you get, the more you can't wait to come to class.

Unfortunately, it works the other way around, as well...

"Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway." - John Wayne

We all did it. Tried to convince Mom that we were at Death's door the morning our unfinished book report was due at school. (Ever try putting a penny in your sock to raise your temperature?)

The dojo experience is no different, except for this: We call our dojo the 'Mistake Place'. We expect that students will fall down on the job - so we can teach them why it's better not to. Besides, everyday courage is a beautiful thing.

Involvement

Showing up is good. 'Being there' is better.

Involvement, of course, is what's required. But the word involvement has baggage. It brings on thoughts of costs like: obligation, awkwardness, effort, etc.

A related, and better word is Investment. With investments you get returns!

Be invested in your class and it's interesting, exciting, fun - productive. You know you're invested when a class runs long, you're surprised it's over so soon, and you wish you could stay for another hour.

Be invested in your training and it'll affect your whole world - for the better. You'll be glad you're invested when you turn to your training to help deal calmly with a fouled up airline reservation or when you're trying to survive changing a flat tire in the rain. (Oh, yes, and blocking punches to the nose.)

When it comes to dojo activites, being invested works the same way with one exception. Yet, we don't expect everyone to take center stage.

There are many ways for people take part in the things we do. Some donate cooking. Some take photos. Some watch and listen. And some people really are the life of the party. Surely, all are a part of the group, but more importantly, all are part of the group's great day.

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