05/22/2026
Now that’s a good mom!
When I was 8 years old, my mom signed me up for karate. At first, it was fun. But after a while, I didn’t want to go anymore. It felt boring. It was repetitive. It was hard. I wanted to quit.
I remember telling my mom I was done.
Her response?
“No. You do not get to quit because you are bored. You do not get to quit because something is hard or repetitive. Life will not always be exciting. Sometimes it will be difficult, routine, frustrating, and yes… boring.”
She made me stay.
At the time, I didn’t understand it. But now, 20 years later, I can honestly say thank you.
Thank you for not allowing me to walk away the moment things didn’t go my way.
Thank you for teaching me discipline.
Thank you for teaching me commitment.
Thank you for teaching me how to handle disappointment, failure, loss, and setbacks — and also how to appreciate triumph, growth, and success.
Karate was never just about punches and kicks. It was about building character.
And the greatest lesson I learned was this:
The people who become the best versions of themselves are often the ones who kept going when they wanted to quit.
So thank you, Mom, for not letting me quit… because it helped shape the man I am today.
~Master Collette
