✅When Small Worries Feel Like the End of the World...

🧠 Kick Your Life™: Wisdom from Korea – Week 9

“It’s darkest under the lamp.”

💬 A Note from Master Chris Hong

Hello Parents & Teachers,

Sometimes the answer we’re looking for is right in front of us…
but we miss it.

We search far and wide—reading, worrying, overthinking—
only to discover that the solution was in our home, our habits, or our hearts the whole time.

This week’s Korean proverb reminds us:

“It’s darkest under the lamp.”

Even the brightest lights can leave a shadow right beneath them.
Sometimes we overlook what’s closest—because we’re too busy looking outward.

✨ A Life Story

Daniel was always searching for ways to “fix” his 9-year-old son’s messy habits.

He tried chore charts, timers, Saturday rewards—even online videos about motivation.
Still, his son left shoes in the hallway, Legos under the table, and jackets on the floor.

One day, while venting to a friend, Daniel asked,

“Why doesn’t he care about keeping the house clean?”

The friend gently asked,

“Does he ever see you cleaning up your shoes?”

Daniel froze.
The truth hit hard: he often kicked off his shoes at the door without thinking.

That night, he started picking them up—on purpose.
The next morning, his son followed.

Sometimes, the answer isn’t “out there.”
It’s right under the lamp.

📖 This Week’s Korean Wisdom

“It’s darkest under the lamp.”

This proverb reminds us to pause and look nearby—
the truth, solution, or help we need might be closer than we think.

🛠️ Try This with Your Family or Classroom

Ask your kids or students:

• Can you think of a time you searched for something—and it was right in front of you?

• What’s one area where we might be overlooking what’s nearby?

Then try this:

Choose one daily challenge (messy mornings, arguments, lack of focus)
and look for one quiet action you could model—not explain, just show.

Let the “lamp” be your behavior.
And notice what begins to shift beneath it.

✅ Your Weekly Kick Plan

This week, slow down and look close:

• Pay attention to your own patterns before correcting others

• Ask: “What might I be missing that’s right in front of me?”

• Lead with example, not explanation

• Reflect: What changed when you shifted your own light?

🌿 Remember

We don’t always need a bigger solution.
We just need to see what’s already here.

Let this week’s wisdom help you notice what’s been quietly waiting beneath the light.

💡 Don’t forget…

Every Monday, you’ll receive your Family Kick Series—
a short story, family mission, and fun challenge to grow stronger together.

Let Thursdays be your moment of reflection,
and Mondays your moment of action. 💥

Warmly,
Master Chris Hong
Founder, Kick Your Life™ & Family Tae Kwon Do

💌 Was this message meaningful to you?

Forward it to a friend, parent, or teacher who’d appreciate it.
Let’s grow something better, together. 🌱