Dared to Grow / Thank you

       There were a lot of things that happened from last October to now. And I feel like sense that time has passed I've learned so much that not a single teacher in the world could ever teach me the things that you all have taught me. When I was called to sit in that chair on testing day and tell my story as to how I got here I wanted to say so much, but my emotions got the best of me so I said the things that I felt like would sum up why I am where I am today. Why am I here?
         When I was five or six ( I can't remember ) I wanted to join a sport and my mom agreed with me so we set out looking for... a sport. I tried ballet ( lasted for one week or two before I left ), tried gymnastics ( lasted less than a week, ( I remember it being three days or four before I left) and I think I did a basketball camp for a week, but didn't continue with it further. Some way or another we found out that there were tae-qwan-doe classes upstairs in Hawthorne Farm. My mom signed me up and the next thing I knew I was in my very first class with my hands up and learning how to kick. My very first instructor was a Mrs. ( her name slips out of my mind at the moment ) and her two kids and some other students... maybe about a good ten of us or so. After awhile Jacob and Chandler joined.
            I think about a good few months or so went by and all we were doing in class was the same thing everyday. I remember we would stretch with some kicks, do forms and earn one stripe on our belt once a month. By the time I got to yellow belt I was starting to get uninterested and wanted to leave the martial arts. I told my mom and she told me to stay with it and if things didn't change after another few weeks or so I could stop. But the next week ( some time close after I wanted to stop ) SBN walked in through the workout room doors. I remember this scene so clearly. I  remember SBN walking through the doors and just walking around and watching us. ( I kicked higher then usual and tried my best to stay balanced )
            I blink and we're at the corner of the gym, I blink and we move into our own building, I blink we expand that building, I blink we move into a bigger building. I blink we expanded that building and I blink and now we're here. Every time we moved or expanded, my connection to Aim High is stronger, my connection to my team mates and teachers have grown unbelievably strong. But what I love so much about our school is that we connected to other schools, connected with other martial artists, improved our state of minds and attitude and we learned how to set goals, treat each other with respect, had fun, learned something new each day and some how we meshed together into a family.
             But when an event in my life changed my perspective of martial arts, that's when it clicked as to why I want to continue with this. My dad was attacked in front of my own eyes by someone I never knew. When this event happened I saw one reason why I wanted to continue. I wanted to learn how to protect the people that I loved and how to protect myself.
              What does getting my Black-belt mean to me? Everything. What does being faster than a Lamborghini mean? It means I can go beyond my limits in whatever it is I am doing.
           
              My family has supported me so much that I could never repay them. You guys ( and gals :) have supported me so much that I may never be able to repay you. YOU have all influenced me to be a better person, YOU influence me to go above and beyond my limits. YOU should be as proud as I am to call YOU my teammate and instructor for DARE TO DREAM. I am so proud of each and every single one of you. Thank you all for being my mentors, teammates and extended family. Thank you.

    - Z0E       

Is everyone done?

I'm just kinda wondering where all the "I'm nervous," "i'm ready," etc. blogs are from all of you...especially the 1st degree candidates. This is the final week. You have got to be feeling something...and even if you've completed your 40 entries, that doesn't mean you still shouldn't write (this is #41 for me).

CGN Taylor and I are the only ones who wrote anything about conditioning day. I know that CGN Jessica posted all of the videos, but are you all leaving it at that? I want to know what you went through from your own perspective that day.

Write about your thoughts, feelings, physical state, anything and everything.

I'm nervous. I'm not sure if I'm ready. Everything feels awkward for me after having that boot on for so long, and now I've got it off and can finally practice more, but it feels different. Any kind of spinning move in the forms, I have to hobble through and I'm sure it looks horrible. Kicking with my left leg is out--i don't have the muscle tone anymore to maintain proper balance, and at this point I can't pivot on my right foot. I actually tweaked it a little moving sideways in a horse stance while doing palgwe 4 with Boy Sam.

this is the most annoying and maddening injury I've ever had. However, tonight and tomorrow my plan is to review all of the curriculum as I plan to present it on testing day. I hope to see many of you out there as well.

Promise Less, Deliver More

"You are tempted to take on too much today and might feel discouraged later on, once you realize that you can't complete everything you started. Thankfully, the solution is rather simple: be more cautious prior to making a commitment. It's a good idea to begin a project slowly and pick up speed as you go along. It's always better to promise less and deliver more."

The message above is my horoscope for the day. I don't necessarily put a lot of stock into horoscopes, but sometimes I read one and it just makes sense; not in the predicting the future part, but in the philosophical way. Tonight, the statements listed above hit home. After we were done with rehearsal, I was trying to modify my open form, and i got rather frustrated. Not being as mobile hinders my ability to perform it the way I had planned, and now I feel like I have to recreate it completely.

KJN actually suggested that I do something requiring less movement than an open form, such as demonstrating how I can break boards from a chair again. I'm honestly not sure what I want to do. I see the physical therapist tomorrow, and I'm hoping for good news. I'm swollen and sore after running through the intro tonight, but I know it's something I'm just going to have to deal with until this week is over. It doesn't feel as unstable as it did a week ago (Molly's advice worked well), and I'm feeling positive that I will be in my brace by end of the week, but not certain: promise less, deliver more. Normally I don't live my life by that statement, however right now it seems like the smart thing to do. :o)

"What did you do yesterday?"

Yesterday was a day of ups and downs. I really wanted to go on that hike with all of you, and it was extremely difficult for me to watch all of you walk away without me. I had to take a few minutes to regain my composure, and even after that it was hard for me to think positive for a while. I spent most of the drive from where we dropped you off to the Bagby trail-head thinking about how much I was missing. I know all of you went through a lot, and I am very sad that I had to miss the experience.

Today, CGN Taylor asked me what I did while you guys were on the hike, and tonight I've decided to share my experience from yesterday.

When we got to Bagby I got out of the durango and started down the trail with everyone else. About twenty steps in, BKJN got on the radio and told KJN that my job was to wait with all of the vehicles and make sure no one messed with the trailer and stuff. I was kind of irritated...I knew it was going to take me a while to get up the trail, and I didn't see any reason why I needed to stay behind--everything was locked up.

So I hobbled angrily back to the durango and sat there for a little while just listening to the radio chatter from everyone heading up the trail. Soon, however, they were out of range, and I was alone with my thoughts. First, I imagined myself out there on the trail with all of you, and thought to myself what a wuss I was being for not sucking it up and hiking the trail...I felt irritated at myself for listening to good advice and resting my injury.

After a series of self-negative thoughts I realized that I needed to change my state of being if I wanted to have a successful day. I decided to make a video blog which I'll be posting soon--that cleared my head enough to realize I had a great opportunity to prepare myself for next Saturday. I got out the curriculum (which I brought with me on a hunch that I might have time to look through it), and I started visualizing EVERY move...even a simple down block in a front stance. After imagining myself going through all of the forms, kickboxing curriculum, kicking combos, and more, BKJN Dan finally came out of the trail entrance alone. At that point, I finally realized he wanted me to be alone and reflect more on what i was thinking and feeling. I am glad he ordered me to stay behind.

I was feeling much more positive, and ready to get started on the trail. I started up as many of the coaches were on their way back down, and I met up with Molly. She decided to walk back up with me, and off we went. The walk up the trail was two hours of hobbling, stopping to take a quick rest, and me denying persistent offers for help from Molly. I was rather cold because I could not move very fast. Walking on the uneven ground was painful, as it caused my boot to twist around in awkward directions. Going downhill was extremely difficult and a little scary. I was very determined to make it all the way up without using my crutches, and denied the suggestion from Molly many times. (She was very patient with how stubborn I was being.) However, after an hour of the uneven rocky ground, my ankle was throbbing and in a lot of pain--I finally decided to start using the crutches. This is when I realized that trying to go on the hike with all of you would have been a very stupid decision.

I crutched the rest of the way to the spot where we had the fire walk, and kept my foot off the ground. Throughout the trail, we were passed multiple times by BKJN, KJN, and the coaches. I felt like I was never going to get there. I did not want to stop and rest or slow down, despite the encouragement from Molly to do so--if I stopped, I didn't know if I could convince myself to keep going. After a while, we met up with BSBN Cory who walked the rest of the way with us, offering added support. When I finally got to the picnic table two hours after I started, i was so ready for an ice pack and lunch, but I was still being stubborn, and Molly, Chelsey, and Cory had to convince me to sit down and let them help me.

After lunch and some ice, it was time to condition. BSBN Cory put me through an intense upper body workout...we actually used the gallons of oil as weights, and the picnic table for plyo-push-ups, dips, and more. The combination of crutching up the trail, and the upper body workout that Cory designed for me has left me extremely sore in my arms, lats, back, and abs. I told him I wanted to make sure I was working as hard as all of you, and he came up with all sorts of grueling exercises for me to go through. I started off alone...a little awkward at first with an audience of people I knew, as well as passers-by who seemed a little confused. However, Chelsea and Jenalyn jumped in and started working out with me, becoming my team for the activity.

I rested a little after the workout, and then decided to walk around and look at the hot springs with Daniella, Chelsea, and Jenalyn. Unimpressed, we walked back to the picnic area to find that Danny Pharr had shown up. We chatted for a short while, and then I got started directing everyone in getting the site ready for when you all got there. In order to modify the requirement for the day, I was given the responsibility of helping BKJN make sure the firewalk went well. The day before yesterday, I helped him secure firewood, gather other supplies, and get extra food for anyone who may not have brought enough. Yesterday, I directed the coaches who came along in clearing the picnic table for your arrival, clearing the fire-site for Danny to rake, and helping get the wood ready to burn.

You all showed up shortly after we had finished preparing the firewood and lit a small fire to keep warm. The fire-walk was amazing, and the things we discussed and the commitments we made had me thinking a lot about what more I can do to improve the world. The wheel barrow ride down the trail was a little embarrassing at first, but I soon got over that as I realized how much BSBN Cory, BSBN Kevin, CGN Christopher, and soon-to-be CGN Darius care for my well-being. Because of their efforts, I got down that trail in the dark without risk of further injury.

On the way home last night, I realized something important: my test was just as hard as yours. I know you all walked a half marathon and went through a lot together, but I went through my test without you, and I think that made it just as challenging. We have trained together for 9 months--we have done many challenging things with each other, and given each other support. Yesterday, I didn't have all of you to rely on. I did have others, but they were not my team, they are not testing next weekend, and they have not shared what we have shared. I appreciate everything they did for me, and it did help me get through the day, but it was not the same as having all of you surrounding and supporting me with the sense of camaraderie that develops when a group of people have accomplished what we have as a team.

I am very proud of all of you for what you did yesterday. I am also proud of myself.

Time is Now

Yesterday was conditioning and it was awesome. Even though I was sick, I was able to make it through and like KJN said: If one person fails, everyone fails because we are a team. I was so tired last night, we got home at 10:30 and I crashed until 9:00 this morning!! That is the latest I've ever slept in. Today is pedicures! I feel a lot better today (minus the aches and pains of walking/running 15 miles). I couldn't have done it without the rest of the team. Thank you to Jessica and Brandy for helping me through with my illness. Thank you to Sarah and Zoe for encouraging me to keep going and not taking pity on me. Thank you Devon and Melissa for going slow all the way up with me. Thank you Noah, Chandler and Darius for making me laugh. It really helped me believe in myself knowing that my team was there with me and supporting me. All the way up I kept telling myself, "I'm not going to be the one that ruins it for everyone" and I wasn't. After lunch I felt much better and I kept up with the rest of the kids and John on the way down. The videos that Jessica took can only begin to describe this adventure we went on. I think it was a great bonding event that made us a stronger team. There is no more waiting, testing week has come and the long trained for October is finally here. Go Dare to Dream!!!!!!

Video 21 Triumphant Return

Video 20 - We are down...

Video 19 Halfway Down [wind of Sam]

Video 18 Boy Sam's got gas

Video 17 Wildlife on the Trail

Video 16 elevation sickness 2

Video 15 the mood improves

Video 14 the purpose of Aim High Martial Arts

Video 13 - the man tube

Video 12 - lunch at the top

Video 11 - the mushroom

Video 10 Group Pee

Video 9 Elevation Sickness

Video 8 Sam climbs the tree

Video 7 Conditioning Day

Video 6 Conditioning Day - Half Way There

Video 5 Conditioning Day - Melissa's funeral

Video 4 Conditioning Day - the View from the Top

Video 3 Conditioning Day view of the river

Video 2 Conditioning Day

Video 1 Conditioning Day

Mixed Feelings

It's about twenty minutes to midnight...we're all meeting at the studio in about 7 hours, and then it's off to who knows what...who knows where. I know a lot of you are nervous. I'm nervous too, but I've got something other feelings happening as well. I'm still rather frustrated about my ankle, but my talk with Molly the other night convinced me to take it easy this week, so that's what I've done. Unfortunately, work had me on my feet three straight hours last night, and two hours today without a lot of sitting down. I'm pretty worn out and my ankle is pretty sore and swollen right now, and I can't sleep, so I'm icing it and drinking some tea to relax. Hopefully I'll be asleep by midnight.

Everything is either packed, or ready to be packed first thing in the morning. I've got four alarms set on my phone in ten minute intervals to make sure I do not get up late. I'm wondering what's in store for me since I'm not going to do anything requiring impact...how many push-ups, sit-ups, plank holds...crazy yoga poses...etc. will I have to do? What kind of mental challenges do they have in store for us after we've been fully exhausted?

I do know one thing, I'm less frustrated about my ankle and missing out on the physical aspect of tomorrow than I am about missing the camaraderie that develops between members of a team when they have to run, crawl, jump, etc. and work together to make something happen. At our last Special Training with Brandy, I think that's what I missed the most. All of you were sprinting together...working as a team...and I was on the sideline, trying my best to work just as hard as all of you, but I don't feel as though I did.

Tomorrow my goal is to encourage all of you to do your best, and try to do as much as I can to work out just as hard as you.

Conditioning

I cannot wait for the conditioning test. It is just around the corner. I feel that I am 200% ready and I have a good support. Me and my mom are going to be the “invincible” team. I hope that every one dose great and that they give it their all. GO DARE TO DREAM!

Better

So, my attitude is all :) right now because I finally finished getting ready for tomorrow and now I can relax. I am soo sooo glad. I've been working on this all day long... not satisfied with clothes packed, shopping for more healthy foods (since it's nearly shopping day and everybody ate all the healthy ... and unhealthy stuff). Stressed still ... hmmm ... time to relax with the cat, hang out on FaceBook and do nothing nothing nothing.... Then wonderful sleep.... Until 5:30am ... ;)

8:03

That is what the clock says....hoping I can be in bed by 9. I'm packed. Ready to get up at 0'dark thirty to spend the day with all of you. Can't wait. Jessica

Wow ...

Okay, so we've reached the final 2 weeks and I couldn't be happier. This is the point where I'd probably say some stuff that would get me a lecture about a positive attitude, so I'll try to word this as positively as possible. I've learned a lot over the past 18 months and have gotten to work with a lot of really great people that had more faith in me than I've had in myself. I've learned not to underestimate my own abilities and to always go for more than you think you can do. I'm also very very tired. I'm a planner, and not knowing what's going to be their plan for us on conditioning day goes against my grain as a planner. But I know that freaking us out is part of their plan so I'm pretty much over it. The worst that can happen is I either throw up or pass out. Personal history says I'd pass out first, so I'm good. :) Yay, team! ;)~

anxious...

a bazillion things are going through my mind... i'm trying not to get stressed out but it's not working!!  lol  today is my b-day so maybe hitting the stores with my mom, who fly in (no her arms didn't get tired, she took a plane... sheesh.  lol), will take my mind off things... 

Intelligent

I find it a pity that I don`t write things on here that take much effort, so I`m taking this chance to sound intelligent.
Here we are. Less than a week and a half till the test and only about 2 days till conditioning. So where are you now? Are you ready, focused and determined? Or are you going to wait until its time to go and be shocked by what we are going to do.
Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance
Start eating right for conditioning day NOW. The more easily your body is going to digest those gronola bars, the better. If you are ready and energized for the day, you won`t be shocked about how your food is reacting to you. Go for a run, plan healthy snacks, meditate. For something as big as our blackbelt test, we always need to be prepared for everything, even when we don`t exactly know what that "thing" is.
Together Everyone Acheives More
Are you nervous about saturday? Talk to a fellow tester! Share your concerns. When you`re done, you won`t feel as stressed. And the less stress you have on conditioning day the better. On conditioning day, find someone who has similar atheletic skills to you, and erge each other the whole day to do better. This way, everyone improves, and everyone feels like a team.
"I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me, and 90% how i react to it."
Not everything is going to go smoothly. I don`t mean to dishearten anyone, but each one of you is going to mess up. And trust me, I know from experience. I FAILED my conditioning test for my 1st Degree. And I`m learning not to be ashamed of that. Be honest with yourself, if something is hurting, don`t baby it any more that it needs to be babied. And keep in mind that you will get frustrated, and exhausted. But why do you think we have memorized all these quotes? We memorized them to keep them in mind when we are frustrated and exhausted.
"we are in charge of our attitudes"
Stay focused always. No matter what is thrown at us, we need to stick together as a team, and stay focused on the goal ahead. And we need to have fun with it! If we didn`t all have this fun quirky spirit inside of us, we would all be doomed from day one. So let it out! And I don`t mean giggle and laugh each time KJN tells us to run a mile. I mean make the best of everything that happens from here on out. Because as a team, we can do whatever we need to do to acheive whatever belt we are striving for.

Dare to Dream my friends.


"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan, 'press on' has solved, and always will solve, the problems of the human race."
Calvin Coolidge

"I do not think there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature." John D. Rockefeller

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." Winston Churchill

"Success seems to be connected with action. Successful men keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit." Conrad Hilton

Conditioning day.

Wow. They always do something to freak us out for conditioning day. When i was reading the list of supplies, i think I froze up a little bit when i read "flashlight". Now this could just mean we will be doing things at night, but in my experience, we`ve always been where there where street lights. So Im really clueless to what they are going to do with us. I guess thats what they want us to feel, and thats where all the fun in it is too. :D

"People of mediocre ability sometimes achieve outstanding success because they don't know when to quit. Most men succeed because they are determined to." George E. Allen

Flushing out the negative thoughts.

I have to admit to everyone....I had a somewhat negative attitude tonight after I twisted my ankle inside the boot. Yes, I had to wipe away a few tears, yes I had a short-lived pity party, and yes, I felt and still do feel a little discouraged and angry. I'm frustrated that I cannot fully participate in the training right now, and while I am working to modify things (i.e. running through forms with modified stances), it just doesn't feel the same. I see everyone else busting their rears and then there's me on the sidelines trying to do what I can to keep moving when you're moving.

I feel like a pitiful dog that everyone looks at and thinks: "oh that poor thing...she's trying so hard to keep up." I don't really like attention, especially when it's pity. I know everyone on the DTD team is giving me positive energy, and no one thinks that way...it's just a negative thought that pops into my head when I see people looking at me walking with my boot.

My new nick-name has taken many forms: gimpy, limpy, gimp...you get the picture. I really don't like it. I'm also tired of talking about what happened. I'm tired of needing help.

I'm also worried. Worried that I'm setting a bad example for the kids (even thought KJN told me it was a good example when I stopped today instead of trying to keep going). Worried that I'm not going to be able to modify things enough, or that stuff will be too modified and not able to show enough of my knowledge and abilities to pass the test. Worried that I'm going to overdo it again and damage something permanently. The doctor was very serious when he told me not to continue training until after November; that my ankle was becoming seriously unstable and if I don't let it heal right this time and keep injuring it, I will eventually need surgery.

I know this is all coming off as very negative, but I think I really need to vent and clear my head so I can reset the positive outlook I've been trying to keep this whole time.

I know I can do this, and I know this is more of a test than I anticipated; I just have to keep altering my plan on how I'm going to tackle this obstacle without putting myself at risk of re-injury. I need to get mentally and emotionally prepared for Saturday. I've asked BSBN Cory to help me come up with some grueling conditioning things I can do without a lot of impact or pressure on my ankle.

"Life is 10% what happens to me, and 90% how I react to it." Just keep thinking this way...

From CGN Sarah

Hey team! I can’t believe the test is only 2 weeks away!!! AHHH!!!! I can’t wait to get it over with. I’m so nervous but I think that we will all do great! You guys have been so awesome along the way and I know that we can all do this if we try our best. I think I know the second degree stuff pretty well except I might work a little more on grappling. I’m scared that KJN is going to have us come out and does first degree stuff so I need to review that to. I’m mostly worried about the written test though. I thought that second degree testers didn’t do it so I haven’t been studying and know I have 2 weeks to cram it all into my brain! YIKES!!!!

CGN Sarah

Brick Breaking to Final Saturday Training

If attitude is everything, I'm thinking that the stress of everything right now is effecting my focus on my attitude. I'm finding myself feeling very uptight for no real reason, once I stop and think about it. I'm starting to try and focus on one day at a time, since that seems to save my sanity.

On the up side, I finally broke my brick! It was one of the most successful feelings I've ever had and I was so proud of myself! My right hand just seemed to have too much of my brain connected to it (I'm right handed), and after 3 attempts at breaking the brick, the only thing I had to show for it was a sore hand.

So after some tears & pacing, I wanted to go back and try again, this time, with my left hand (not much of any other option, seeing as my right one was pretty much out of the running). I was hoping Kjn would let me, as I'd already told him I was calling it on night on breaking. Luckily, no one stopped me... In fact, Boy Sam walked me through how to come down through the brick & was a GREAT help in the whole process. The brick broke on the first try! I was so surprised that I just stood up and said, "It broke!".

I figured it broke because instead of using my right hand and thinking, "If I break this hand, I can't write until it heals", I was thinking about my left hand as, "Hey, if I mess this up, at least I can still write with my right hand!"

I guess attitude is everything. ;)

Final Push

Okay I've been taking OSHA all day and Zinc - I am NOT going to get sick darn it! I could not believe how hard this morning was for me! It was like the hardest special training ever. I could feel myself getting weak as the morning pushed on. It was so much fun that I just decided to ignore it and keep going.

Need extra help this week to pull together kicks and a few other cirriculum areas. We will be there Monday but Wed is back to school night for Josh so we will be rolling in late :-(

Hang in there everyone. It is the final push!

Special Training & Requirements

Special Training this morning was great! I haven't really done any cardio for three weeks, partially because of the pain, but mainly because I didn't get creative in how I could continue that part of training. Today, I realized how much hopping on one foot can get my heart rate up! I am going to spend about 15 minutes day hopping on one foot for the next two weeks to get my cardio going again. I really miss jogging, but hopping will help. :o)

On another note, I'm so proud of everyone today! You all did such a great job with the relays, and kept a positive attitude. You worked your butts off today, and I am saddened that I was unable to participate fully. I do have to tell you, I'm getting pretty good on my push-up form...and doing push-ups with one leg in the air.

Working on putting my notebook together to submit for the requirements. I'm still down 5,000 push-ups, sit-ups, and rows. I need to do an average of 333 of each per day until the 15th to finish them. Here come some arms and abs of steel! Everything else I'm good!

I just realized the only major things I have left are two environmental acts...I did three in April, and then just seemed to forget about them. I'm going to be looking for opportunities to fulfill that requirement in the next two weeks. If anyone else needs to something for the environment, please let me know!

The 10%

The last few weeks have been challenging and stressful, and not just because I'm training for my second degree black belt. For the kids, I'd compare this kind of stress to the end of a term at school...paper deadlines creeping up, presentations to prepare, season championships on the line...etc. I've already shared about a few things: block party, taking on the responsibilities of one of my employees while she's on maternity leave, hiring for a manager position and planning for the transition of one manager to another position, 2012 budget process is starting, the end of the Dare to Dream Test, and this darn ankle situation.

Well, life definitely does not slow down when you're feeling stressed, and you have to learn to deal with multiple on-going situations that require a large amount of focus, planning, analysis, critical thinking, problem solving, and making very difficult decisions.

What I haven't mentioned before is that my friend of 12 years was an internal candidate for the manager position that we were hiring for...and that position reports to me. I spent many days and sleepless nights thinking about this situation, and my friendship. The hiring decision was not solely mine, but was a committee decision, and my friend did not get the position. The person we hired was more qualified and had more experience, yet this experience definitely had a toll on my stress level and my friendship.

When I think about the past month, and all that has happened, I am impressed with myself and how calm and focused i have been able to remain overall. I feel like I owe this to my training as a black belt at Aim High. "Life is 10% what happens, and 90% how you react to it." I honestly find myself repeating this statement more and more...it's become an affirmation.

Because of my training as a black belt, and my dedication to maintaining control of my thoughts and actions, I know I will get through everything that is happening right now with a positive outlook on life and the things to come.

Training Partners.

Does anyone have a training parter OUTSIDE of Aim High? I do. I have a friend whose name is blake, and he is always one step better than me. He always pushes me to go harder i sure hope i do the same for him. Having a training partner is good in any situation. Training partners always push you to do your best in everything.

Problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines. ~Robert Schuller

Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go. ~William Feather

More Quotes.

As I sure hope a lot of you have seen, i like to add quotes to the end of all my journals. Here are some more that i really like.

The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places. ~Author Unknown

Consider the postage stamp: its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there. ~Josh Billings

It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer. ~Albert Einstein


Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another. ~Walter Elliott, The Spiritual Life


People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them. ~G.B. Shaw, Mrs. Warren's Profession, 1893


There is no telling how many miles you will have to run while chasing a dream. ~Author Unknown

You learn you can do your best even when it's hard, even when you're tired and maybe hurting a little bit. It feels good to show some courage. ~Joe Namath

I may not be there yet, but I'm closer than I was yesterday. ~Author Unknown

I broke a brick!

I broke a brick. It hurt. I just needed to power through it and not stop. My hand really stung and felt stiff after I broke my brick. I was really nervous before I broke my brick. I didn`t really feel stick to my stomach, but was just nervous.I felt really great after i broke my brick because it was done and over with. Im really glad I was able to do something like that.

When the world says, "Give up,"
Hope whispers, "Try it one more time."
~Author Unknown

The greatest oak was once a little nut who held its ground. ~Author Unknown

Fall seven times, stand up eight. ~Japanese Proverb

Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did. ~Newt Gingrich

qoute

it's funny how i always gauge my workouts on how sweaty i am and how i feel....  the below quote always reminds me of why i push myself the way i do....


"The true vision of a champion is bent over, drenched in sweat, at the point of exhaustion when no one is looking."
- Mia Hamm

From CGN Sarah

I wanted to thank CGN Chris for organizing the trip to the food bank. I had so much fun and I want to do it again sometime. I think that it was a great way to bond even more with our fellow testers. I feel like the team has grown so closer in the last couple months than I could have ever imagined. We’ve bled, cried, and sweat on each other. We’ve run with each other, kicked each other, and grappled the snot out of each other. But most importantly, we’ve stuck together no matter what. I can’t imagine testing with a better group of people. Our team mates are our family now and I wanted to thank all of you for always being there for me.

CGN Sarah

Block Party

Catching up on my Journals:
The block party was fun. It was interesting to see all the people there, and to be able to help set up. One of my favorite parts was helping in the fishing game and attaching prizes to the fishing poles. I think the demo team did a great job on their performance. We were able to ad-lib so we could time things perfectly.

~ A community is like a ship; everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm. ~ I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the community, and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. ~

Oregon Food Bank.

Hi everyone. For those of you that went, I hope you had a memeorable time t the Oregon Food Bank, and would want to do something like that again. After the first time I went to the OBF, I decided i wanted to do the same thing with you guys. So I planned and schemed untill it was time to go. I had a lot of fun planning it too, and i really hope you guys had fun helping out.
Each person in our group helped to feed a lot of people.
Frozen Bean Room: 120 people fed per person
Potato/Tomato Room: 232 people fed per person.

~ In every community there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart there is the power to do it. ~

ugh...

My ankle is swollen, bruised, and still in pain. I have a blister on my right heel from wearing that stupid fiberglass splint. My right knee is sore from having to wear the clunky black boot. Some of the fingers on my right hand have been numb for a couple days...most likely from using the crutches. I'm working both days this weekend. And, I'm just plain old tired.

Okay, now that all of that complaining is out of the way, let me tell you about the good parts of my day. I crutched a 1/4 mile (my arms were burning!) with CGN Jenalyn keeping me company, and even challenged Hunter to try and finish his mile before I finished my quarter mile...which he did. :) I improved on my push-ups, sit-ups, plank, and hang-time. Enjoyed a delicious pancake breakfast provided by the Hoskins family and enjoy the company of the DTD team on a relaxed level (one of my favorite things to do). I got to watch a couple girls compete at the Stargazer Meet today who I taught when they were five years old...and sit and chat with their moms for a while. And, I took a nap on the couch with my ankle up on a bunch of pillows.

All-in-all, I think today was a balanced day. I little bit of challenge to overcome with positive thoughts.

State Management is controlling the way you think, feel, behave, and perform. There are two things that control your state of mind; your physiology and your mental interpretations. Change the way you think, and you will change the way you act. (might be a little off, but you get the point) :o)

Hope everyone is working to maintain a positive attitude. We're almost there...

Block party

This week at the block party I was sad that I didn’t break my last board. I broke it the same way I tried three days before, when I broke it. I was very unhappy. But I got happier after I did the demo performance. Good Job Everybody.

4th Monday again

Hi guys - it's early and I know I will see you all Saturday but Monday it is my board meeting again. So I won't be in class.....train hard! :-)

So much to do, so little time :)

K, so it seems like everyone is ahead of me on numbers. I'll have the sit-ups, etc all done by testing time, but I'm afraid I'm going to forget things. :) Saturday trainings always knot my stomach up. I'm afraid I'll oversleep, so I set two alarm clocks... How sad is that? I'm stressing over conditioning day and pretty much everything else. We won't even go into my stress level when it comes to brick breaking (but Jessica's going to work w/me on that, thank you Jessica!)

When testing is done and I have my belt in my hands, I'm going to get a massage, a pedicure, go out to a theater to see a movie, go to the coast, sleep in, fold all of my laundry and plan a real vacation for my family. Then I want to go to class, hit things, kick things and even break things. But this time, with no pressure. Oh, and then we get the blue gi tops so we don't look like Stay-Puft marshmallow people. ;) I look better in blue & black anyhow. Heh Heh!

Knowledge

So monday night bsbn asked us some of the knowledge base stuff and some I knew before but i now forgot so what i need to do is practice all those and know all I need (maybe even more). But just so I get great on the stuff I need to know I will stick to that first.

saturday

Saturday was kind of a crazy, exciting and fun day for me. 

The crazy happened at belt testing. Chandler and I volunteered to help with the lil warriors and there were only four of them.  We stuck around for the jr warriors/kids and there were 12 of them... total!! KJN/BKJN had put the junior dtd black belts to work, so we stuck around again for the adults... only 4.  How crazy is that? 

It was so exciting to break our boards and bricks in front of individuals who don't see us on a regular basis (at the studio and at home).  I'm always nervous, like everyone else, and I must have a trigger inside my head that says... suck it up and do it (lol), because when I got up there, I was fine.  Now if I had to talk... that might have been a different story!  lol :D

The day ended with getting dressed up and attending the Amy Roloff charity event.  It was so much fun being a part of the AH table and having CGN Jessica there as part of the Edwards Center table.  We even got to see/visit with a parent whose son used to come to the studio!  It was so great to see Michelle! 

A Saturday of Growth

Wow, what a Saturday. I'm really happy about how everything turned out, and I feel genuinely relaxed right now. My leg is propped up on some pillows, and I'm lounging on the couch listening to some of my favorite mellow music.

Saturday morning I woke up with an expectation of how everything was going to work for the block party...and then I got a couple calls from KJN and BKJN. It was raining--we needed to figure out a plan for dealing with it. Of course, plan B for the block party in the case of rain has always been to move things inside OGA, so I already knew that was going to be fine. However, this year we had a lot of BIG things, and I wasn't sure how everything was going to work.

During my initial conversation with BKJN, the stress overwhelmed me a little, and I had to hang up with him so I could cry. I was already flustered by trying to bathe and get dressed while hobbling around on my crutches; already had the normal anxiety that comes with the responsibility of running an event; already wondering how my breaks were going to go, and the rain just had to come along and add that final straw. Like I said in my letter to next year's candidates, I'm a 30 year old woman who cries when under stress. I'm not ashamed. Once I cry, I feel better, my head is clearer, and I can move on with the task at hand.

Moving the event inside was a good decision, and the event progressed very well. There were so many helpful people--I'm trying to make a list of all the people so I don't forget to thank someone. The exhibitions were amazing! The raffles and dunk tank were more successful than previous fundraising attempts at the 2009 and 2010 block parties, and we still have sponsorship dollars left over! Both Aim High and OGA will share the funds to make gymnastics and martial arts available to kids with special needs and at-risk youth.

I am so proud of all of the DTD testers for board and brick breaking awesomeness! I surprised myself a little with the front kick...not sure if everyone could tell, but I wasn't quite sure how to position myself for that break...I felt so off-balance. I loved that so many people were watching us!

The night ended with an amazing time at the Amy Roloff charity dinner. It was great to finish a successful event and then get "dressed up" and spend the evening with great friends and some very interesting people supporting a wonderful cause.

I feel great about everything that happened yesterday. I know that if I can get through a day like yesterday and allow myself to trust others to get things done when I can't, then I have truly grown as a professional, and as a person. I owe much of this to my training as a black belt at a place like Aim High.

Now, I'd like to say that I am so glad the block party is over! :o)

From CGN Sarah

Dear 2012 Black Belt candidates,

First of all, CONGRATULATIONS. You have worked so hard to get where you are now and it’s well deserved. Coming up, you will be faced with some challenges that might make you doubt yourself and your totally awesome skills. No matter what, you must remember that if you set your mind to it, you will succeed. Your instructors would have pulled you out by now if they didn’t think you could handle the test.

During the test, you are going to have to make some sacrifices. For me, I had to give up a few soccer games and practices to attend some training. But sports aren’t the only things that are sacrificed. I had to give up a lot of time with my family and friends for my test. My friends would ask me to come over or spend the night and I repeatedly had to say that I was busy. Or my cousins were having a sleepover but I had special training the following morning so I left early. Spend all the time you can with your loved ones and make good use of your nights off.

Don’t fall behind on your numbers. Once you’re too far behind its hard to catch up and you’ll end up with tons of pushups/sit-ups/rows to crank out at the end. Try keeping a chart in you binder and fill it out after each day. Whether you had P.E. or you rode your bike to work, everything counts.

Rely on your team. They are your family for this test and they will support you no matter what. Aim High, Dream Big, and never give up.

With love and best wishes,

CGN Sarah :)