We all have people in our lives that seem ordinary, that is until you take a closer look. We have our outer shells in place to shield ourselves from the harsh reality's of live. One of my favorite pastimes is to try and see behind this protective shell and find the person underneath.In this case I was very pleasantly surprised. I first saw Lisa at our Kwoon teaching my son a lesson in the tiny tigers class. She came across as a harsh task master with a very definite set of rules to follow. It took a few weeks of watching the class before the other side of her became visible. Behind the tough exterior lurked a very soft and caring soul. She really cared about these kids and had nothing but their bet interest at heart.
Over the next decade I came to know her and yes love her. She is not verbal about her childhood and has only ever hinted at her struggles to overcome her past. She is a strong voice in the issue to stop bullying in schools and playgrounds. Her young life was plagued with these issues long before they were recognized by any authorities.As a teenager she struggled with her self image and worth. There was a time she considered herself not worth saving. For us who know her we are glad she struggled on.
She will be the first to tell you that Silent River and Master Jeff Brinker gave her back her drive. She is a living example of what the martial arts can do for your mental well being as well as your physical self.Her strong personality is what makes Silent River such a family oriented School. She has touched hundreds of lives over the years and never expects or asks anything in return. You can depend on her to always have your back.
This draft is a very abbreviated version of her life.If you ever have the privilege , her telling of it could make you cry and yes laugh. She is a very private person and so I have asked her in advance for the right to tell her story.
Thank you Sifu Freitag
Linda
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