Any long term martial arts teacher knows this.

When someone says “I won’t be there because….. “ whatever follows doesn’t matter. They’re not going to be there.

I remember saying “it’s okay, I’m always happy to see and teach you, but when you’re not here, I never think about you.” The student looked hurt.

The thing is, if we get upset when people don’t attend sessions, we’d be upset all the time. To be happy when they’re here, but not think about them when they’re not, keeps a good relationship and keeps the teacher sane.

In the 70’s martial arts were a cult and when someone didn’t turn up, we’d go round their house to see if they were dead. But it’s not the 70’s, martial arts are not a cult anymore and students can be notoriously unreliable.

And we have to deal with it.