A Second Chance

Thank you all for being here tonight, I am honoured.

Not many of us are given a second chance to make something of their life. I was. I can’t tell you why, or if at the time I even recognized I was being given another chance, but looking back now 20 years later I see clearly that’s exactly what I was given; a second chance.

In Feb of 1996, due to my stubbornness I had to declare personal bankruptcy, and admit that what I had taken as a ‘right’ was really a ‘privilege.’ That understanding was something that would take me quite a few years to realize.

The period of my life that began that February was a time in my life I will never forget. It brought me so much pain and anger but in the end, it also gave me the joy you’re sharing with me tonight.

I was 48, embarrassed, done in, a failure, a write-off.

Going forward there were many months I struggled to find a footing. Mrs. D held us up - she was the bread winner with a good decent paying job and I had found a job delivering papers at night. Between the two of us we were able to make ends meet and keep our family together and strong.

In Aug of that year on the recommendation of a friend, I attended a Taekwondo class with him.

I had grown up playing hockey, soccer, baseball and football, so physical activity was part of my nature - martial arts I wasn’t too sure of, but with the support and encouragement of my family, instructor, and friend, I was able to overcome my hesitancy and began to attend class regularly - even though I was by far the oldest student in the club.

More than a few times I felt awkward, silly and out of place but eventually I began to enjoy the physicality of the movements and began to test and advance gradually.

A memory from that time that stands out to me tonight is from a meeting I had in the late spring of 1997 with Mr. Ford at a Starbucks on 6th Ave in New Westminster.

I had just received my Camo belt and I remember telling Mr. Ford that I’d figured out that if I continue successfully training and testing, that with some good fortune by the time I’d be closing in on 70 I could be testing for my 6th degree.

Now, where that concept came from I couldn’t tell you because also in that same conversation as I recall, Mr. Ford had said to me when we were talking about when I’d started; he said - ‘Well when you enrolled, your goal was black belt, right?’

To which I replied, ‘No my goal was to get to orange belt, then maybe yellow.’ I would take it one belt at a time.

Flash ahead 20 years later and after taking it one test and one belt at a time, miracle of miracles here I am receiving that 6th degree belt and maybe next year becoming a Master Instructor.

Lao Tzu said ‘The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.’ Little did I know that all those years ago that what I was doing was beginning a journey that would bring me here tonight, and it was also the step that gave me the second chance to make something of my life.

Along this 20 year journey I feel I have gained a deeper appreciation of life than in my first 48 years.

I attribute that in large part to what Eternal Grand Master H.U. Lee did by establishing firmly in Songahm Taekwondo our Life Skills program, through which I was reintroduced to Courtesy, Respect, Loyalty, Self Control, Integrity, Perseverance and Honour.

Concepts that had been taught to me by my mother but in my stubborn desire to pursue a course in my life without consideration of those around me, concepts I had sacrificed.

I will be forever grateful for Songahm Taekwondo and what Eternal Grand Master and the Founders Council created.

I cannot begin to tell you in words what tonight means to me but I can tell you what you mean to me.

To our students - without you, your commitment to self improvement, and to the discipline of Taekwondo I would not be standing here tonight.

To our parents and families - without your belief and the support of your children and what we do here in the academy, none of this would be possible.

To the instructors Mr. Raphael, Mr. Skaar and Ms. Coombs, thank you for your dedication to the academy’s purpose and values and in believing in what we do.

To Master Rob Goins - your attention to detail inspires me, as does our friendship.

To my instructor Sr. Master Ford - thank you for all your encouraging and at times challenging words over the past 20 years, and the times you have spent helping me through some of the tough spots and disappointments.

And finally to my family - my wife Carole, my heart & soul, my son and partner Robert and to our daughters Robyn and Kat, son in law Corey, maybe future son in law Eric - I stand on your shoulders because you lifted me up through some of the toughest times of my life.

It was your love that gave me the courage to pursue this second chance and I am honoured to share this moment with you. I love you, my thanks to all of you.