New Year, New Day

 I have started a blog several times over the last few weeks. Then been distracted with one thing or another, and never finished. Yes, the holiday season is busy, and with all the hustle and bustle I’ve not only let down my team, but myself. The good thing is I did write down important points that I wanted to blog about. Today, new year, new day, no more excuses. 

This past year has been a struggle for me. I’ve been faced with challenges that I haven’t had to deal with in the past. At times I let these challenges take me down a negative path, and I wallowed in frustration. I still attended classes, and still kept up my numbers up for the most part, but I wasn’t necessarily doing anything meaningful at times. I was concentrating on what I wasn’t able to do, instead of seeing value in my challenges. 

A couple of one on ones has helped immensely, and I am working on shifting that mindset to appreciate the opportunities I am given, rather than focusing on what I am unable to do. This is helping me to be more in tune with my body, and feel my movements and techniques, instead of just going through a motion. I was only feeling frustration when I would push myself, and then end up down for several days because I pushed too hard. I am learning the limits I am able to reach and not go beyond at the moment. I am learning to appreciate those limits, and modifications. My mind knows the correct technique or movement, but my body needs to modify to stay within the limit I am able to produce at the moment. 

One thing I am keeping a close sight on is when there is a modification needed, I stop and mentally check where the technique should be. I don’t want to lose sight of this, and not remember how to do something correctly when I am able again. This is all helping to keep me positive, and progress, even though I am not physically able to do something at the moment. 

My personal goals for the year of the dragon are focused on recovery, and progression. They were made in hopes of surgery early in the year. Thankfully that happened and my surgery date is set for January 10th. I realize it will be a long road, but I have set goals and timelines to help me progress positively. I have to keep the opportunities in front of me, and know that everything will not always go as planned, but to always keep pushing forward. I only hope that this date will still remain, as I have been quite sick over Christmas with this nasty cold going around, but hopefully on the mend from that!

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year, a strong finish to the Year of Rabbit, and the excitement to come for the Year of the Dragon!

Numbers 

Push ups (most modified) - 32,950

Sit ups (most modified) - 31,645

Form reps - Hand 640, weapon 340

AOK’s - 1564

Sparring (modified) - 295

KM’s - 2392

Blogs - 35