Sometimes It Takes A Sledge-Hammer to Wake You Up

In about 1990 I was at a Whole Life Expo, enjoying the New-Agey displays of crystals and acupressure tools when I saw a flyer for something called the “Warrior Retreat” where, supposedly, martial arts and Native American spiritual practices were being combined. I scoffed at it until I saw the name of the man who was head instructor: Harley Reagan. I knew that name. In fact, one of his students, Terry Letteau, had taught me a meditation that had helped me massively with fear management.

Maybe…just maybe…

So my brother in law Patric Young and I went to the week-long event. Much of what occurred there is talk for another time, but what is germane is:

1. What they taught was real, and fascinating, and different.
2. Harley Reagan was, and remains, one of the most fascinating human beings I’ve ever met.
3. The woman teaching the women’s self-defense track was a four foot ten dynamo named Dawn Callan, who eventually became one of my dearest friends.

I can honestly say that these three things changed my life. I could easily write a book about these things, but want to focus on Dawn. She ran the women’s self defense track like a drill instructor from what I could see — I only watched out of the corner of my eye, because I was too busy getting my butt whipped on the Jiu Jitsu mats. But off the mats, after the day was over, she seemed approachable, funny, and very very centered. Odd combination of chaotic and very…