“In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute.”

- Thurgood Marshall, first African-American U.S. Supreme Court member

This month we are celebrating the incredible contributions, giftings and talents of African Americans, during Black History Month. It’s a time to recognize that in honoring these accomplishments, we honor all Americans who have benefitted from them. For instance, scientist George Washington Carver derived over 300 – yes 300 – products from peanuts! Among them – cosmetics, soap, plastics, cheese, coffee and milk! The inventions of physicist Dr. Shirley Jackson led to extensive telecommunications developments, including caller ID, the portable fax, the touch tone telephone, and call waiting.

Do your kids revel in water gun fights? They will want to thank Lonnie Johnson for this brand of fun. The Aerospace Engineer for NASA created the Super Soaker – the most famous water gun of all. Do you enjoy watching the movement of GIFs online? Well Lisa Gelobter was integrally involved in the creation of the Shockwave technology, which spurred the beginning of web animation. And that has led to GIFs galore!

Learn about, share and celebrate the varied accomplishments of African Americans during this month, and all year long.

Twelve-year-old Rebecca Drayton has achieved at least 11 belt levels in her Tae Kwon Do career. A member of the Demo team, she loves the great exercise workout she gets during her classes at the Fayetteville location. She and her family love Master Shim’s World Class Tae Kwon Do. “They do an amazing job of teaching respect for others and self.  Character is very important and modeled well by all masters and instructors,” says her mother, Lesley.

Rebecca is a GA (Girl in Action) at New Hope Baptist Church, and indeed stays active and on the move.  Here’s more on one of February’s profile students, Rebecca Drayton.

Why did you start taking Tae Kwon Do?

I have been doing it for a little over a year. I started because I wanted to try something new and had wanted to try martial arts for years.

Did you have any problems/issues that Tae Kwon Do helped you overcome? 

I gained more strength and confidence. I also have better focus.

What has Tae Kwon Do done for your confidence? Self-esteem? 

Tae Kwon Do has helped me with my confidence and self-esteem because I am able to do things I never even thought was possible. So now I think pretty highly of myself.

Why do you like Tae Kwon Do?

I like being able to surprise myself with new techniques.

Why would you tell another kid that they should do Tae Kwon Do?

I would tell someone that they should join Tae Kwon Do because it helps with focus and it improves your level of strength.

February is American Heart Month. The purpose of the designation is to promote heart health, and raise awareness about heart disease. We all know it’s vital to take care of your heart. But what does that look like? How do you do it? Regular medical checkups are a given. However, you want to ensure you are doing your part to keep your heart healthy and happy.

• Eat healthy. That’s a given. Lots of grease, fat and sugar is not good for your heart – or any other part of your body, for that matter. Fresh fruits and vegetables provide you with necessary nutrients. Also, be sure to drink plenty of water.
• Get active. There are numerous benefits to exercise. Helping that blood to flow and getting the heart to start pumping are just a couple of good reasons to get moving. Power walking, stationery bike, and yoga are all great starts. Tae Kwon Do is an incredible way to have fun, build self-esteem, get in shape and be active all in one.
• Manage stress. We all have stress. It’s a part of life. The key is controlling it and learning smart ways to counter its effects.

Of course, there are numerous other ways to take care of your heart. But starting with even these simple ideas can make all the difference.

Valentine’s Day also falls in the month of February. Take heart-healthy action as an act of love for yourself … and those you care about.

Nine-year-old Elvin Davis started taking Tae Kwon Do classes at Master Shim's Fayetteville location last April. Though it has only been a short window of time, his mother, Sonya, says she made the right decision. “I am very pleased with Master Shim's Tae Kwon Do program. The staff is great and it is affordable compared to other places that do not give the same opportunities such as learning new things, building confidence, (and) providing structure.” That structure is already making a positive difference in Elvin.

Here’s more on our student, Elvin Davis.

Why did you start taking classes at Master Shim’s?

I started Tae Kwon Do because Master Shim's Tae Kwon Do offers an afterschool program that picks me up from school, it teaches disciplines and allows me to learn something new.

Did you have any problems/issues that Tae Kwon Do helped you overcome?

Tae Kwon Do has helped me to speak louder in front of people, because I was always shy and would speak quietly in front of people.

What has Tae Kwon Do done for your confidence? Self-esteem? 

It has strengthened my confidence and caused me to be more of a leader.

Is it good exercise? 

It makes me sweat every time I do it.

Why would you tell another kid that Tae Kwon Do is fun to do?

I would tell another kid they should do Tae Kwon Do because it would help them learn self-defense and it would be good exercise.

Just last month, we saw an end come to the longest United States government shutdown in history. While we’re thankful that it’s over, it definitely highlighted the need to learn how to live frugally and make smart financial decisions. Whether saving for your next vacation, a new house, a new car or your child’s education, it’s important to know how to make money-wise decisions.

• Always have an emergency fund. Ideally, you want to have 3-6 months of living expenses saved. But don’t let that figure deter you. Start where you can. Some savings is better than none at all.
• Cut down on unnecessary expenses. We all like to splurge every once in a while. But daily lattes may be a habit you can curb, for the greater good of your wallet.
• Find avenues of passive income. Get your money working for you. Whether it’s a side job that doesn’t require a great deal of your focus and energy, or an investment that pays healthy dividends, this additional money stream can come in very handy in a pinch.
• Clear clutter. Sell items in good condition. If you haven’t touched it in months, do you really still need it? Or is it unnecessarily occupying space? If you aren’t able to sell it, perhaps making a donation and receiving a tax write off is the way to go.

Preparation time is never wasted time. Prepare now for what could come later.