When I’m really struggling mentally or emotionally before Tang Soo Do training, I make a point of taking the long way there. I’ll go out of my way to stretch the ride out, maybe stop for fuel or grab a quick snack. A few extra minutes on the bike, and a few minutes standing next to it somewhere quiet, does more for my head than sitting at home trying to “push through it.”

It’s not about avoiding training — it’s about arriving with my head clear enough to actually be present. The long way gives me space to breathe, reset, and knock the noise down before I walk into the dojang.

Some days, that detour is the only reason I make it through the door at all.