Starting Over

   I can't believe that VioDy, (my reason for this blog), has ended over a week ago, or how life altering it was again, or, or..
   My life was a mess. For years. "Sucker," "doormat," "people pleaser,"... pick a noun or pick them all. A coward deathly afraid of confrontation, (or a voice raised a few decibels higher), I swayed in whichever direction I was pulled. Others benefited from this type of cowardice, even as I often felt  miserable. I had met: an individual that should've been jailed, one that had been, repeatedly, and a few "friends who weren't," among only a handful of people I thought were decent. Generally, people sickened me; I sickened myself. Over a decade and a half passed in nearly a blur, punctuated by too few wonderful memories interspersed throughout.
   Violence Dynamics is an amazing seminar, whether or not one is new to self defense. My first time there last year, I was struck by this group's uniqueness.  And yet, amidst techniques being practiced, law and self defense being taught, and criminals being deconstructed, a different, consistent picture emerged of  the instructors and of  the entire group:
Kasey Keckeisen -  When Kasey asked for thoughts or opinions, he actually LISTENED to the responses he received.
Dillon Beyer- Dillon's  teaching and advice on how to "people" at work was invaluable.
Randy King- Randy is hillarious, and somehow removed the intensity of moments by making people laugh.
Rory Miller-  Rory offered the best large group suport and kept you "in the game" emotionally.
Marc MacYoung- Marc offered the best behind the scenes support and can essentially explain.. you to you.
The entire group-  Everyone was knowledgeable, helpful, and kind. There was something to learn from every person in the room.
What became obvious was the fact that these people all CARED. They showed more kindness to me, a stranger, than I received from some individuals within my own, inner circle.
   Returning to VioDy this year allowed me to strengthen previously formed bonds, meet more people, and experience the same, non judgemental kindness from some of the most wonderful I had the honor of meeting.
   Through this blog, I intend to document what I learned from, or because of, these amazing people...