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 Most of my personal goals were successful, and some even superseded.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