Simple Things

   The simple things. Breathing, sleeping, eating, mobility, etc. Little things I tend to take for granted. I have, so far, had an extraordinarily easy life, in my opinion. By easy I mean I have never had a major disease or catastrophic accident that have left me incapacitated or unable to live a full and beautiful life. I am gainfully employed, I am in control of both my high blood pressure and my asthma (thank you Dr Johnson), I have a beautiful wife who has gifted me a life I could only have dreamt of. I can not and will not complain as I know that all of that could vanish in the blink of an eye. 

   Life can change direction in an instant so I live my path to its fullest. I enjoy my ability to take a deep breathe (do you? - try one now - ahh sweet isn't it!), I savor my meals, I love to my fullest, I smile every chance I get, I laugh, I remember those I have lost, I cherish those I still have. I know my years are limited, more behind me than in front of me, I am mortal, I will die, but I will do so with a smile because I have lived and loved. Every disappointment and heart break is proof that I can love, that I cherish life and the rollercoaster it brings.

   This brings me to two recent experiences. 

   Tuesday in the Kid's class, I tweaked my knee while standing up. It sucked, it hurt, it caught me off guard. I couldn't function the way I wanted at all, so annoying. But I compared it to those around me who have gone through so much worse than this, my wife for example, "tweaked" her knee and needed surgery because of it. So a little pain for a week was nothing on the grand scale of what it could have been. As of today I am at about 80% so I dodged a bullet there. A little TLC and some stretching and it should be back to my functional. 

   Second is way more in depth and personal. I decided not to grade this year. This was both a shock to me and a relief to me all at the same time. I fought with my ego for months over this, but thankfully reason prevailed over ego. From my forms to my demo, I knew I was not ready and to ask the grading board to waste their time when I knew I wasn't ready was both irresponsible and arrogant of me, plus it was unfair to them. I will grade some day, but only when I can convince myself that I am actually ready. I have so much to learn before that thought can ever be broached again.

Push Ups  16200

Sit Ups  16050

Sparring  800 min

1609KM  1896 km

Acts of Kindness  1400 recorded

Hand Form  515

Weapon Form  510

Mastery recited 55