I thought this was a great insight on the matter;

"My standards for earning a black belt, of any rank, have been set by people who have either set a standard for their own lives that is wonderfully high –or they  have, through some life-journey, knowingly (or unknowingly) embarked upon a path that required them to be people, to be human beings, of the most extraordinary kind.
The ultimate testing board for black belt –especially high ranking black belts, could (and should) be made up of people who have demonstrated genuine courage in the face of danger; who have achieved things that made the world a better place; who, against enormous odds, have succeeded in serving as living examples of the best-of-the-best that a man or woman can be.
Kicking ass is easy; being a cognizant, involved, compassionate, make-a-difference human being, now THAT is tough. That's what I want from myself -and from my students.  
Why?
Why not? What does someone have to lose by seeking to be a human being of the highest order?
Let’s measure our accomplishments against those of Mohammed Ali, against Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Eleanor Roosevelt, Martin Luther King, Per Anger, Oskar Schindler, Jimmy Carter, and other people, living and of history, that represent life-purpose mastery. Let’s give up the crazy quest for more and useless material wealth/garbage and start being human beings who represent something worth being.
This is, as a teacher, what I’m thinking about when you step on my mat. This level of accomplishment is what I’m thinking about when I think about my next black belt test –which is my life.
My life is my dojo. My black belt test is my life –and my goal is to live like a champion in the world, for myself and others, and to act like today is my black belt test. 
This is known as "the practice."

-Tom Callos-

Time...

Hello my friends,

Time slips away doesn't it? In August it was 1 year since my dog Angel passed. I spent the day in reverence of her memory. My son Roman is getting bigger by the day. Summer flew by. With Autumn here and the amazing colors on the trees. It will be winter soon, Thanksgiving, Christmas, on and on it goes. I want to slow it all down, but alas I can't. I must pause and give thanks to all who brighten my days. My wife... Thank you, I love you so much. You are the most amazing wife. I am so lucky. You are my light and the most amazing mother to our son. Thanks to my son Roman who makes my life complete. Thanks to my doggies who teach me every day to live fully in each moment. To my mom who is the most amazing mother one could ask for. To my sister who is an amazing mother in her own right. To all of my wonderful friends, you are amazing individuals. Finally, I give thanks to God.... that's all I have to say.

From the mountains,

Jason