Teamwork in Alabama

Hello everyone! I have just completed, alongside Sifus Rybak, Langner and Beckett, a trip down to the small town of Greensboro, Alabama to assist in repairs and additions to shops and homes throughout the area, I have learned more about stepping up for the community and giving back whenever I can in the past 5 days than I have my entire life. Not only that, I have learned so much about leadership and teamwork.

Being kind and helping someone makes them feel good, which in turn makes you feel good for creating that happiness. Not only that, it makes whoever sees this act of kindness feel good and inspires them to do something nice to even more people! I find this is even more impacting when you work with a group of like-minded people hoping to achieve the same goal.

We had a lot of fun and worked hard together to get several projects either done, or setup to be completed. The energy and atmosphere here has been amazingly positive! Everyone has been super friendly and willing to give a hand at the drop of a hat, it has been really great.

Another aspect I thoroughly enjoyed in this trip was the chance to go with black belts that I look up to and admire, and interact with them in a less formal way. Getting to know them outside the kwoon, seeing what they are like personally, sharing laughs and experiences. Really connecting with them, making friends with them and truly feeling like part of the team, this made me so happy!

I would like to thank Sifu Brinker for encouraging us to go down there to represent Silent River and our country for that matter, being that we were the only Canadians there. Also for giving us the unique opportunity to participate in such an impacting event as well as meeting Tom Callos and other inspirational people like Julia Hill and Keshia Thomas.

This may be the euphoric feeling of the moment talking right now, but I feel I have definitely changed my outlook regarding helping others, preserving the environment and my eating choices (the vegetarian meals were actually quite tasty). I am DEFINITELY looking forward to next year and years beyond and I encourage everyone reading this to come along as well, you will not regret it!