Self-control: Now more than ever.

My eldest daughter earned her black belt in Taekwondo before she turned 12, which comes across as a brag, I realize, because it is. It was hard for her, but she persevered. This is apropos, as the tenets of Taekwondo are perseverance, courtesy, integrity, and indomitable spirit.

On the day of the black belt test, she and her fellow students recited these tenets, just as they were required to do on day one. They had to internalize as well as memorize the tenets, a not unreasonable expectation as they were printed in large letters on the wall of the dojo.

If you’re also a Taekwondo parent or study this Korean martial art or if you Google it like I did 20 minutes ago then you know I left out one of the tenets: self-control.

As Election Day 2024 plays out, I suggest we all try to exercise self-control, which I don't always succeed in doing, so maybe this post will be free advice that I also just can take.

Here’s what TaeKwonDo Nation says in part about self-control.

Self-control can be defined as the ability of one to function in the world today without losing patience or displaying ill-temper or anger towards another.

The article goes on to suggest how we might exercise self-control day-to-day:

• ?When we don’t respond to the person instigating us of something which is for their benefit.
• When we are on the verge [of losing] our calmness and coolness but then realize to keep silence.

I like these examples of self-control enough to write them out on sticky notes and tape them (because they won’t stick) to the bottom of my enormous monitor that’s wide enough to showcase six 3-inch square sticky notes (another brag), evenly spaced in true Virgo fashion.

Whether you put these examples on sticky notes or internalize them in your own way, I wish you luck in disengaging from instigators, holding your tongue, keeping calm, carrying on, and any other bromide that works for you as our interesting times unfold.