Impass

So I'm sitting here thinking about the black belt team. There's a lot of discussion lately about how we have to be supportive of each member of our team and I'm finding myself questioning whether or not how much we HAVE learned to support each other and have learned about each other. For example...

Jackie... She's fun, overly perky (that's not a bad thing in this case, Jackie) and is the first to push everyone in our group to practice harder. She has areas in her training that she struggles with, just like the rest of us, but she never lets it stop her.

Hunter... He always acts like he's afraid of hurting me when we spar, or he keeps his distance because I told him not to give Holly a bloody nose again (heh heh!). He's not only getting very strong in all areas of his training, but he seems to be more comfortable within the BB group and it's easier to get into a conversation with him than at the start of the BB process. I've watched him instruct the Little Warrior classes and he's really good with those kids and they respect him as their instructor.

Noah... He's the quietest member of our BB team, but whatever he DOES say, it's always kind and when he gives somebody a smile, they've earned it because he always seems to be deep in thought, so a smile means they've gotten his attention. His MA skills are so strong, he's going to be someone to contend with in the future... Like tomorrow!

Darius... He's reminded to practice strong and to focus on his intensity a lot in class. But he never cops an attitude about it. He sucks it up and does a better job the next time. Like any 10 year old boy, he's easily distracted, but it's also evident that getting his black belt is very important to him, otherwise he would still be walking around the track when we have 'numbers day', instead of running the whole thing. If he continues focusing on his intensity, he will be a real roll model for kids going for their black belts in the future.

Melissa... She's probably the most stressed about BB training (second only to myself), but she's grown so much as a martial artist since she started training, that she's really amazing. She shares her concerns which makes it easier for others of us to relax in the fact that we aren't the only one who feels the same way.

That's what I've learned about the Dare to Dream Black Belt team. Not one of us would ever leave one of the others behind because we are a team and that will never change.