Full Circle Aikido

2025 was the year of the snake, which apparently (I am not an expert, but a reader, follower, student, of those who have walked before me as everyone else I know) had to do with the energy of shedding, letting go, growing from the old and into the new. I've been thinking about this and I wonder if this really means that it needs to be taken as negative or positive, as if that matters?
Can we look at it as a means to simply evolve as we should and continue to find ways to not be stuck/static/delusional about who we are, what we are, and what we are doing? Can we not shed, lose, burn up, hurt, change, as well as gain some knowledge about ourselves, become more thankful, acquire something useful for this year, the year of the horse, and ride off into blessings?
Yep 2025 was flippin weird man, and yeah a difficult thing to process some of the stories, experiences, and situations we went through. However, if you are reading this chances are you have studied or trained or walk the The Way of the Warrior to some capacity. This is the deal we made through a commitment to this path. It's meant to be better though if we learn to do it with more respect and appreciation for one another's efforts to be better humans, warriors, martial artists, friends, fathers, mothers, siblings, children, teachers, those who serve their communities, veterans, the world runs off people who show up and put the work in period. No matter what happened or how hard it was, we are with you, we experienced it too. And we see routing for you in 2026! This was our year, our own ups and downs, our family. Together. May this new year bring more togetherness and love, and memories. From my family, our students, to yours have a happy 2026.