009: Daily Struggles: The Wisdom from Cobra Kai

I remember hearing the chatter of friends at the pool at the start of the summer in 1986. "The guy punched right through the car window - TWICE! It was amazing!"

Karate Kid II was just released, and kids my age–the ripe young age of 10, were enthralled. Just the year before, The Karate Kid introduced the world to Daniel LaRusso, Mr. Miyagi, and Johnny Lawrence.

In January 1985, Daniel experienced high school crushes and bullying as the new kid; I was switching schools in 3rd grade and experienced all that comes with being the "new kid." While I didn't experience the level of violence that he experienced in the movie, I was drawn to Daniel's plight and felt Mr. Miyagi's wise words were for me.

My favorite of the trilogy - and I realize this is an unpopular opinion (even Ralph Macchio didn't like it) - is Karate Kid III, when Daniel falls prey to the dark side of Cobra Kai. (The reasons why might be the subject of a future blog post.)

In Cobra Kai season 4, villainous Terry Silver confronts Daniel and tells him, "You just don't want to admit you've always had a little Cobra Kai in you." Immediately, I thought about this poem, The Battle Between Two Wolves, in which a Cherokee elder tells his grandson that two wolves live inside us that battle one another - one represents evil and hurtful energy while the other represents good and positive, supportive energy.

As much as I try to live by my core values of Learning and Courage and put positive, supportive energy into the world, I sometimes struggle with conflicting emotions, ego, anger, and resentment over things from the past. 

I am blessed to have a core group of my closest friends (my person Mr. Miyagi's), who remind me when I am not leaning into my core values and who are not afraid to tell me that I might be about to make a mistake. They respectfully ask me:

• Is this in line with your core values?
• Is there where you want to put your energy?
• What might be the unintended consequences of the actions you are considering taking?

I listen because I trust them. 

I trust them because I know, without a doubt, that they care about me. 

As a child, I never thought about the daily struggle of life - managing the connection of our emotions and feelings to our actions… and how they influence our future and other people. I don't remember if adults never talked about it or if I was so "all-knowing" in my teens and twenties that I brushed it off. 

• Who shows up for you when you are about to feed the wrong wolf?
• How do you show up for others when you think they might do the same?