Final Push

 It’s hard to believe we are only 3 days from the Lunar New Year, and less than a week from our New Year banquet. Time for the final push of numbers for the year, and the small tweaks to polish the form for the demo. The last post of the Year of the Dragon. 

We partnered up in the last class to provide feedback to each other. I received some great feedback with one of the techniques in my form, relating to how they were shown to do it. Thank you Todai Walker, I have been working through correcting this in my technique. At this time of year it is too late for big changes, but the feedback received is appreciated, and isn’t something that requires a major change. I find with continuous practice at home, sometimes I incorporate doing a technique slightly off, possibly due to space. And if practiced enough it feels right. This is the value of feedback from another eye, and one of the great benefits of being a part of this team. 

Although not all my numbers are where they should be this year, I am proud of my progress. I may not have hit the required amount, but I feel I have excelled in all areas for me. It was definitely a year of growth, and learning a lot about myself. My limits, my weaknesses and my strengths. 

I look forward to going into the Year of the Snake on a high note, and a positive projection. 

Push ups- 36,600

Sit ups - 36,600

Form reps - Hand 675 Weapon 725

AOK’s - 1655

Sparring (modified) - 940

KM’s - 1763

Blogs - 54

7 Simple Rules

 7 RULES OF LIFE

1. LET IT GO

NEVER RUIN A GOOD DAY BY THINKING ABOUT A BAD YESTERDAY.

2. IGNORE THEM

DON'T LISTEN TO OTHER PEOPLE, LIVE A LIFE THATS EMPOWERING TO YOU.

3. GIVE IT TIME

TIME HEALS EVERYTHING.

4. DON'T COMPARE

THE ONLY PERSON YOU SHOULD TRY TO BEAT IS THE PERSON YOU WERE YESTERDAY.

5. STAY CALM

IT'S OKAY NOT TO HAVE EVERYTHING FIGURED OUT. KNOW THAT IN TIME, YOULL GET THERE.

6. IT'S ON YOU

ONLY YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF YOUR HAPPINESS.

7. SMILE

LIFE IS SHORT, ENJOY IT WHILE YOU HAVE IT.

I came across this quote and it really resonates with me. Simple, to the point, and yet powerful to me. 

Practice this week has been focused on my banquet form, but also keeping my other forms in front of me as well. 5 banquet forms to one other form seems to be working well for me. 

Working on strengthening my banquet form, not only maintaining. 

Push ups- 35,700

Sit ups - 35,700

Form reps - Hand 655 Weapon 680

AOK’s - 1632

Sparring (modified) - 925

KM’s - 1729

Blogs - 53

Reviewing the Past, Looking Forward

 January 10th marked my one year anniversary for my surgery. When I submitted my personal requirements for the year, I didn’t have a surgery date, but knew it was to be in the early months of the year of the dragon. I set goals not solely based on this, but they heavily factored on recovery and rebuilding. 

I was fortunate to get a surgery date quite a bit earlier than expected. So I finished the year of the Rabbit hobbling around. I feel this past year was quite successful. Most of my personal goals were successful, and some even superseded. There is a few areas that need more growth, care and attention. My blogging numbers were bang on, and now I need to grow with the content of my blogging. 

Some of my goals were set with specific timelines for recovery, and some did not go so well. If felt like forever to recover for some movements, pain management, and swelling. Certainly longer than I had projected. But, keeping true to myself as best I could, I continued to push and let myself heal in the time that was needed. In doing that, I feel I was able to make greater strides in a shorter amount of time, even though it was a bit later in the recovery time period I had thought it would be. As I previously blogged about, some of my goals for the coming year of the Snake are to build and grow from the goals set out from last year.

Last night was that special night of the year to welcome our newest black belts. We will celebrate their hard work at the Chinese New Year banquet. While being so very proud to welcome new black belts, this night is also emotional for me. As I reaffirm my commitment to the black belt that I earned. It really is so superficial to say commitment to a belt, and in truth it really does not have a lot to do with the actual belt. I am committing to a lifestyle, a life of choosing and living Mastery to the best of my ability. In every corner of my community, and my world. It is not only this day, but every day, but on this day I reaffirm, and it holds such a special meaning to me. 

I was able to build on some numbers this week, being on a more regular schedule at work, and not being the busiest time of year for me. 

Push ups- 34,800

Sit ups - 34,800

Form reps - Hand 640 Weapon 650

AOK’s - 1618

Sparring (modified) - 910

KM’s - 1691

Blogs - 52

Happy New Year 2025

 25’s for me have always felt like a milestone.. I can’t explain why, but it always feels that way to me. I remember when I turned 25 (a few short years ago 😂) and it felt surreal to me, I was a quarter century old! And then I doubled that, and a half a century felt almost unbelievable to me. Time flies, and nothing slows it down. So I need to make the best of the time I have, and only I can decide what I am going to do with it. 

So Happy New Year! As posted by others, this is generally the time of year people decide to make changes, and be better for a multitude of reasons. Todai Bauer wrote an excellent blog about resolutions. As I get older, my goals of course change and evolve as my body starts to break down, and more cautions are needed. My family has changed as well with aging parents, grandchildren, and added family members. I take these changes into account when I set my goals for the year. 

When I’m setting goals each year, there is room for them to evolve through the year as well. As we know, unexpected things happen. My goals are also not one and done. I do my best to choose activities, and achievements that will grow each year. One year to the next are meant to improve upon the year before. As Todai Bauer stated, successful goals take time, and time to form habits. I also try to take this into account. While I set goals to be achievable, I also want them to challenge me. The ultimate goal is to improve and be the best me I can be. 

My physical goals were not met this past week again for the most part, including the annual New Years day challenge. With all of the work around home through the holidays, I was pretty physically spent. I am challenging myself to add numbers each week to make up for the new year challenge. 

Wishing everyone a happy New Year full of successes, growth, and good health!

Push ups- 33,875

Sit ups - 33,950

Form reps - Hand 610 Weapon 610

AOK’s - 1595

Sparring (modified) - 890

KM’s - 1656

Blogs - 51