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