From:

Master Scott Palangi

Piermont, NY

Saturday, October 10th, 2009

Dear Friends,

These days, it seems that whenever you mention the word “philosophy”, many people in the room begin to roll their eyes with a look of “Oh please, spare me.”

I’m one of them.

Nothing’s more annoying than someone carrying on about their viewpoint, especially when you’re not interested.

But like it or not, we have a “philosophy”… a way of seeing things… and opinion of, and how, our world “works” if you will.

At the current moment, I believe that if you want to be happy and healthy in both mind and body… you need a philosophy.

But not your own per se.

One that, well, “works”!

The story below, encompasses, what I believe a philosophy on how the world works, by “Palangi” standards, that is.

Before you give it a read however, I would first like to share with you my Purpose for Palangi Kickboxing.

I believe each of us has something inside of us…. a unique gift…. an “offering” if you will… it could be a simple gesture… or a specific talent… a lifelong service…. or maybe only words of encouragement at the right time, to the right person… that can change somebody’s life…. positively and permanently for the better.

Go back and read that sentence again if you must because its NOT some pop-culture, amateur self-help psycho-babble quote that I’m parroting in an effort to make you think I’m magnanimous. I’m not. In fact, I’m just a guy.

But it IS, in fact, what I BELIEVE in my guts.

And so long as I’m paying attention, I learn something life-changing from someone, usually EVERYONE, almost every single day of my life.

The thing is though, many people simply cannot bring these “offerings” to the world because they lack the energy, the vibrancy, and the positive aggressiveness and eagerness, if you will, to unlock that “stuff”.

I have been there.

More than once, too.

Palangi Kickboxing is a “tool” for you to discover (maybe even “re-discover” which is really a blast!) that you can in fact get into such good physical shape that your MIND and your EMOTIONS actually become sharper, allowing you to discover and deliver YOUR “GIFT” to your world.

I firmly believe you cannot access what’s inside until you have command over your body.

Sound superficial? Perhaps.

But when you get “there”… trust me… it’s like someone has injected you with the energy for excellence and you then, hopefully forever more, make your #1 mission in life to hold that fire and keep it burning bright until your work here is done.

The following story I believe gives us a model by which we can offer the world our best self.

I’ve no idea who wrote it. Here it is:

One morning, a carpenter told his employer, a building contractor, of his plans to leave the building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife… enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by.

His employer was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house, as a personal favor. The carpenter said “yes” but it was easy to see that his heart was no longer in his work. He had lost his enthusiasm. He had resorted to shoddy workmanship; he used inferior materials. It was unfortunate way to end his career.

When the carpenter finished his work and his boss came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter. “This is your house!” he said, “my gift to you.”

What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had just built none too well.

So it is with us. We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting, rather than acting, willing to put up with less than the best. At important points, we do not give the job our best effort. Then, with a shock, we look at the situation we have created and find we are now living in the “house” we have built for ourselves. If we had realized, we would have done it differently.

Think of yourself as a carpenter. Think about your “house” each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely. It is the only life you will ever build. Even if you live in it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously, and with dignity.

I really like that.

When I first read it, years ago, it permanently changed the way I look at ALL the results I was getting in my life.

Hope you enjoyed.

SP