February 2015 Newsletter

Wise Words from Sifu Rick!

When you soar like an eagle, you attract hunters.

AASD ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Next Belt Test for those eligible Friday February 13that 6:30pm
• Next Adult Belt Test for those eligible Saturday February 14th 11:00am
• Next leadership class Saturday Feb 7th at 8:00am

Black Belt Pride

February 2015 Student of the Month

Cole Huen

Cole joined our Black Belt school in November of 2014. As a former student of Jeet Kune do, Cole brings focus, hard work, and concentration that is second to none. Always giving 100% and then some, Cole sets an example when sparring that is far superior to most.

Sifu Rick & staff wish to not only salute Cole for all his hard work, but his parents, Katherine and Egan for all their support of our Black Belt school as well.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

How often to do you take the time to let the people you love know how you feel about them? Most of us would admit we probably don’t do it enough. We get caught up in the daily worries and busyness. We can often forget to slow down and invest in the relationships that matter most to us. If this sounds familiar, you are among the majority. Luckily, we have February 14th — a day set aside to recognize those important relationships.

In the United States, celebrating Valentine’s Day usually means taking time to show your appreciation and affection for those you love: spouses, partners, parents, children, friends, and family. Often, this holiday manages to creep up on us. It can be difficult to plan ahead too far, but the red hearts, flowers, and candy begin popping up in stores right after New Year’s Day, so a lack of time or options is no excuse.

Do-It-Yourself (DIY) projects and instructions have taken over the internet these days, so finding the time and resources to make something special is easier than ever. The effort and thought you put into creating a customized gift for that special someone will show them just how much you really care. Try writing a letter or poem, making paper lilies out of children’s handprints or creating a photo book filled with special memories.

There is still plenty of time to find a way to make this Valentine’s Day memorable for the ones you care about. Take the time to show those around you how much you care – you might be surprised how good it makes you feel to see their faces light up with the knowledge that they are special to you.
Happy Valentine’s Day to you and all those you love.

A Day for Recognition

On the 14th of February, many people exchange cards, gifts, flowers and candy with their special “valentine.” This special day, Valentine’s Day, is celebrated around the world by people of all ages. Parents, children and adults frequently exchange Valentine’s Day cards in observation of this day. Once a very serious holiday, the day is now lightheartedly celebrated by those looking to recognize the important people in their lives. Below are some fun facts about this special holiday:

• Teachers receive the most Valentine’s cards, followed by children, mothers, and wives. Children between the ages of 6-10 exchange more than 650 million valentines a year.
• Flowers are a traditional and very popular Valentine’s Day gift. The meanings of flowers are determined by their type and color. Red roses and red chrysanthemums both signify love, but, more specifically, white carnations indicate pure love, primrose means young love, and forget-me-nots are said to show true love. Yellow and pink roses both imply friendship, but pink ones can also be given to a sweetheart. Red carnations indicate admiration and larkspur suggests an open heart.
• The most popular flower on Valentine’s Day is a single red rose surrounded by baby’s breath.
• On Valentine’s Day, nearly 189 million stems of roses are sold in the U.S.
• Valentine candy “conversation hearts” have a shelf life of five years and nearly ten new candy sayings are introduced each year. Recent additions have included “Yeah, Right,” “Puppy Love,” and “Call Home.”
• Valentine’s Day is a $14.7 billion industry in the U.S.
• Americans spend around $277 million on Valentine cards every year, second only to Christmas.
• Approximately one billion Valentine cards are
  sent each year around the world. An estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent during the
  Christmas holidays.