the redemption of johnny lawrence.

“Don’t let the past remind us of what we are not now.” – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

I’ve started watching Cobra Kai on Netflix. I won’t be a spoiler, but I can tell you that this gives a completely different spin to the original Karate Kid movies.

There’s a common perception that people never change. That’s not true – we can all look back on who we used to be. The journey isn’t easy….even as we try to correct past mistakes, we keep making new ones.

What’s interesting about the character of Johnny in Cobra Kai (the villain in the original movie) 😊is that he’s aware of the path to changing his life for the better, but he still keeps getting in his own way. A day does not go by where I don’t feel like I’m having the same issue. My heart is in the right place, but I don’t know how to convey how I’ve changed, and it’s not recognized by others. This can be disheartening and disappointing, but I know that I’m on the right path.

There’s a storyline in the show with which I can truly relate – it involves the strained relationship between parent and child. There are scenes that really resonate with me, because the negative perceptions and external voices far outweigh the reality. The frustration of the characters trying to reconnect really hits home with me, as there are barriers that keep this from happening.

If you haven’t watched Cobra Kai, it’s very well-written, and it has added dimensions to Daniel and Johnny that gives them tremendous depth. It’s intriguing to see them in a different light, because you see how they’ve grown and gone in very different directions with their lives.

To Johnny Lawrence, I say thank you….we’re both finding our way to redemption, and doing it one step (or kick) at a time.