Hi guys,
I am in the process of creating something super cool. This blog will be located on a new website that is under construction.
If you would like to take a look around (I have done a couple new blog posts on it) you can, but remember that this is an unfinished site, so many of the pages won't have anything on them yet!
What you can do is click on this link to go directly to the blog, and sign up with your email so that you get each new post. Be sure to comment on any of the posts by clicking on the little "comments" or "no comments" words.
Enjoy, and please give me any feedback you have on the site. I am trying to incorporate all the feedback I get to make this the coolest TKD site ever!!
Blog : www.taekwondospirit.com/blog/
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Happy Birthday To Me!
I turned 44 at 1:07 a.m. this morning. Missed being a Valentine by an hour, but my mom would tell you that I am her's anyway. :)
I love my birthday. Kind of a crazy love that I have had for as long as I can remember. Since I have been working, I have taken my birthday off, and so today, I took off from my normal work day and celebrated me.
I had thought about going for a run this morning. The thought crept into my mind last night as I was planning what I was going to do to make my day the best. Starting out my day with a run was something I did for many, many, many years, until I had kids and sleep became higher on my priority list. But nowadays I have to be up at 6:30a.m. anyway to see my middle schooler off so I thought maybe after Danielle was also out the door that I would go. But another thought occurred to me and I asked Dani if she wanted to go for a birthday run with me. Everything sounds better with the word birthday in front of it, even running.
Much to my delight, she gave me a very enthusiastic "Yes!" Dani is going to start a program called Girls On The Run in a few weeks, so she is thinking about this running thing anyway. Well out the door we went and it was so beautiful and sunny this morning, just for my birthday! The run I do is about 2 miles long. It is the run I have been doing for a while, just to keep running. Nothing hard, nothing stressful, but I can say I went for a run. Danielle and I started off down the road and met the trail head at about a quarter mile...off onto the Cabin John Trail we went. About a minute onto the trail she told me that her ankle hurt, so we stopped and walked. After three attempts and failures to get her jogging again I felt a little frustration brewing in me. I wanted to RUN!
Then something nice happened and I relaxed. I remembered that my nine year old had only done this running thing once before and wasn't as type A as I was about it. I turned around to look at her, about to use my "encouraging" voice once more, and shut my mouth. I smiled to myself and stopped and waited for her to catch up with me. "Do you want to go in front?" I asked. "Sure", she said and she scooted around me and the dog (who was very glad we decided to walk) and led the way through the woods.
We walked the rest of the loop, talked about random things, listened to at least five different kinds of bird songs and one woodpecker knocking, and laughed about how her camp counselor calls poison ivy "the fuzzy vines." (Not such a funny thing to someone who doesn't know what "fuzzy vines" are!)
My birthday "run" was the best! So were my birthday pancakes that she made me when we got home! And the day is still young! A little birthday taekwondo tonight with some kind of birthday chocolate afterward, and the recipe for amazingly wonderful birthday will be complete!
:)
What do you like to do to celebrate your birthday?
I love my birthday. Kind of a crazy love that I have had for as long as I can remember. Since I have been working, I have taken my birthday off, and so today, I took off from my normal work day and celebrated me.
I had thought about going for a run this morning. The thought crept into my mind last night as I was planning what I was going to do to make my day the best. Starting out my day with a run was something I did for many, many, many years, until I had kids and sleep became higher on my priority list. But nowadays I have to be up at 6:30a.m. anyway to see my middle schooler off so I thought maybe after Danielle was also out the door that I would go. But another thought occurred to me and I asked Dani if she wanted to go for a birthday run with me. Everything sounds better with the word birthday in front of it, even running.
Much to my delight, she gave me a very enthusiastic "Yes!" Dani is going to start a program called Girls On The Run in a few weeks, so she is thinking about this running thing anyway. Well out the door we went and it was so beautiful and sunny this morning, just for my birthday! The run I do is about 2 miles long. It is the run I have been doing for a while, just to keep running. Nothing hard, nothing stressful, but I can say I went for a run. Danielle and I started off down the road and met the trail head at about a quarter mile...off onto the Cabin John Trail we went. About a minute onto the trail she told me that her ankle hurt, so we stopped and walked. After three attempts and failures to get her jogging again I felt a little frustration brewing in me. I wanted to RUN!
Then something nice happened and I relaxed. I remembered that my nine year old had only done this running thing once before and wasn't as type A as I was about it. I turned around to look at her, about to use my "encouraging" voice once more, and shut my mouth. I smiled to myself and stopped and waited for her to catch up with me. "Do you want to go in front?" I asked. "Sure", she said and she scooted around me and the dog (who was very glad we decided to walk) and led the way through the woods.
We walked the rest of the loop, talked about random things, listened to at least five different kinds of bird songs and one woodpecker knocking, and laughed about how her camp counselor calls poison ivy "the fuzzy vines." (Not such a funny thing to someone who doesn't know what "fuzzy vines" are!)
My birthday "run" was the best! So were my birthday pancakes that she made me when we got home! And the day is still young! A little birthday taekwondo tonight with some kind of birthday chocolate afterward, and the recipe for amazingly wonderful birthday will be complete!
:)
What do you like to do to celebrate your birthday?
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Kicking People We Know
One of my taekwondo classmates was struggling the other night. "I have a problem with kicking people I know," she emailed to me after class.
I am pretty sure we all struggle with this in class. We don't want to hurt each other. Yet, we have all been hurt (some broken) and survived to kick again. And probably most of us have hurt someone without meaning to. Hell, we picked a combat sport folks. We picked it for a reason. And we keep doing it for a reason. And I am not stopping any time soon.
There is probably too much complicated psychology behind this to even try to think about explaining why those of us who practice martial arts do what we do, and love it. But I am going to give my own baggage a crack tonight, in hopes that I might help some of my comrades.
I did not ever learn how to fight as a girl growing up. Thankfully I never really needed those skills, although I remember the time Tammy smeared paste all over my favorite green sweatshirt in kindergarten and had I known how to punch back then, I may have practiced. My mom was eighteen when she married my dad who was twenty five. My mom addressed confrontation by obeying those who ruled the roost and by trying to make them happy, including her father and then her husband. My dad ruled the roost so I learned to shut up and disappear when I needed to. I never learned to speak up for myself, stick up for myself or fight for what I needed or thought was right. I learned that doing those things was shameful and that following the rules was safer. I would never do or say anything if I thought it would make someone angry or upset. If I did it felt really, really bad. Hurting someone physically wasn't even on my radar then. I would have rather died than hurt someone.
Fast forward to my thirty eighth year of life, married with two kids of my own, Jonathan who was five and Danielle who was three at the time. I was about to embark on the taekwondo journey without really knowing what it was I was getting into. The universe has a way of giving us what we need sometimes. I think you know what I mean. Sometimes we are given opportunities to heal, grow and transform ourselves and they can be disguised as all sorts of things. Mine wore a crispy white uniform tied with a black bow, was a man of few words but knew how to teach us how to fight, in more ways than one.
The longer I practiced the more passionate I became about the way of kicking and punching. I did feel stronger, more flexible and in great shape, but the thing that I felt that overwhelmed me the most was a mix between confidence and indomitable spirit. This feeling trumps the physical fighting skills I have learned. It helps me in every part of my life, not just in class.
The only thing about training with this new family of mine, is that the longer I practice the more amazing friends I make. I have known some of my classmates for over six years now. They are my friends. And some nights I have a problem with kicking people I know too. I don't want to hurt anyone. I would rather die sometimes. That old feeling comes back...don't make anyone mad, don't hurt anyone, stay quiet, stay invisible. Problem is that doing that has a cost. It is a heavy layer of crap that covers up my spirit. And at my age (44 next week!) that cost is too high. I have spent a lot of time uncovering, healing and transforming myself so that my spirit can shine. I am able to live with purpose and joy and nothing, nothing can take that away from me at this point. So I practice kicking, and I enjoy training hard, knowing that my purpose is not to hurt anyone, but to keep shining.
I picked a combat sport (sorry mom) and I know there will be times I may be hurt or hurt someone unintentionally. To continue the fight of my life, to be me, to live with passion and joy, I will need training partners who are willing to kick to the head, to show me what I am made of, to help me be the best I can be. To every one of you in class, thanks for doing that, for being a friend, and for sharing this crazy passion with me.
Here's to kicking each other, for each other, with as few injuries as possible...
Laura
PS. One of the rudest awakenings I had a few years ago when I decided to spar in one of my first tournaments was that the competitors I would be up against had absolutely no problems hurting me, by kicking to the head. Gheeeeezzzz Louise, that was a lesson learned the hard way. To this day I hesitate about sparring in tournaments because of that. The only way I will do that again is if I feel prepared, physically (because my partners in class are helping me train hard) and mentally. I am working on both of those things...
What are you all working on? Give me a few comments guys, make me feel the love. :)
I am pretty sure we all struggle with this in class. We don't want to hurt each other. Yet, we have all been hurt (some broken) and survived to kick again. And probably most of us have hurt someone without meaning to. Hell, we picked a combat sport folks. We picked it for a reason. And we keep doing it for a reason. And I am not stopping any time soon.
There is probably too much complicated psychology behind this to even try to think about explaining why those of us who practice martial arts do what we do, and love it. But I am going to give my own baggage a crack tonight, in hopes that I might help some of my comrades.
I did not ever learn how to fight as a girl growing up. Thankfully I never really needed those skills, although I remember the time Tammy smeared paste all over my favorite green sweatshirt in kindergarten and had I known how to punch back then, I may have practiced. My mom was eighteen when she married my dad who was twenty five. My mom addressed confrontation by obeying those who ruled the roost and by trying to make them happy, including her father and then her husband. My dad ruled the roost so I learned to shut up and disappear when I needed to. I never learned to speak up for myself, stick up for myself or fight for what I needed or thought was right. I learned that doing those things was shameful and that following the rules was safer. I would never do or say anything if I thought it would make someone angry or upset. If I did it felt really, really bad. Hurting someone physically wasn't even on my radar then. I would have rather died than hurt someone.
Fast forward to my thirty eighth year of life, married with two kids of my own, Jonathan who was five and Danielle who was three at the time. I was about to embark on the taekwondo journey without really knowing what it was I was getting into. The universe has a way of giving us what we need sometimes. I think you know what I mean. Sometimes we are given opportunities to heal, grow and transform ourselves and they can be disguised as all sorts of things. Mine wore a crispy white uniform tied with a black bow, was a man of few words but knew how to teach us how to fight, in more ways than one.
The longer I practiced the more passionate I became about the way of kicking and punching. I did feel stronger, more flexible and in great shape, but the thing that I felt that overwhelmed me the most was a mix between confidence and indomitable spirit. This feeling trumps the physical fighting skills I have learned. It helps me in every part of my life, not just in class.
The only thing about training with this new family of mine, is that the longer I practice the more amazing friends I make. I have known some of my classmates for over six years now. They are my friends. And some nights I have a problem with kicking people I know too. I don't want to hurt anyone. I would rather die sometimes. That old feeling comes back...don't make anyone mad, don't hurt anyone, stay quiet, stay invisible. Problem is that doing that has a cost. It is a heavy layer of crap that covers up my spirit. And at my age (44 next week!) that cost is too high. I have spent a lot of time uncovering, healing and transforming myself so that my spirit can shine. I am able to live with purpose and joy and nothing, nothing can take that away from me at this point. So I practice kicking, and I enjoy training hard, knowing that my purpose is not to hurt anyone, but to keep shining.
I picked a combat sport (sorry mom) and I know there will be times I may be hurt or hurt someone unintentionally. To continue the fight of my life, to be me, to live with passion and joy, I will need training partners who are willing to kick to the head, to show me what I am made of, to help me be the best I can be. To every one of you in class, thanks for doing that, for being a friend, and for sharing this crazy passion with me.
Here's to kicking each other, for each other, with as few injuries as possible...
Laura
PS. One of the rudest awakenings I had a few years ago when I decided to spar in one of my first tournaments was that the competitors I would be up against had absolutely no problems hurting me, by kicking to the head. Gheeeeezzzz Louise, that was a lesson learned the hard way. To this day I hesitate about sparring in tournaments because of that. The only way I will do that again is if I feel prepared, physically (because my partners in class are helping me train hard) and mentally. I am working on both of those things...
What are you all working on? Give me a few comments guys, make me feel the love. :)
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
The Voice of the Fuzzy Pants
On rare occasion I get funky about exercise and that voice in my head says, "Wouldn't you rather just put your jammies on sit on your butt and rest?" This past week I said yes to that voice. I had a good reason, an injury, that was making it easy for me to listen to that voice, thinking I was doing the right thing by resting it and taking it easy. So I did, and it was okay for a bit, until Monday night, when the voice showed up again, "Wouldn't you rather just put your jammies on..." but this time another voice showed up. (By this time I am sure you are starting to worry about the voices in my head, but don't).
The new voice was trying hard, struggling to be heard. "Just go to class, you will feel better afterward, and if you don't go you will feel guilty and bad all week." "You can just take it easy in class and make sure you don't hurt yourself." Hmmm... "Jammies!!" one voice shouted. "Get your uniform on!" the other one protested.
So I actually went and changed into my jammies. Ahhhh, fuzzy pants, you feel so good. One more night of sitting on my butt won't hurt. But there was something wrong...something inside of me that felt so bad about that decision wasn't letting it go. Normally once I actually get the fuzzy pants on, that is it, done, no matter what voices appear at that point, they already lost. But this time, something else fought hard. So I went back into the bedroom and despite the nagging, "Ugh" feeling I had, I took off the pants and put on my uniform. Through the continued thoughts of my couch, I put on my socks and tied up my shoes, and grabbed my keys and walked out the door. I started the car and the voice interrupted "It's not too late, go back, the fuzzy pants are waiting!"
Class was spectacular, as usual. My injury felt much better, especially after I got going, warmed up and the blood was flowing. Helicopter kicks were feeling good. And even better than that, I was smiling. On the outside and the inside. Whoever was fighting for me was victorious. Thank goodness. I like that girl.
I know that it is okay to rest, especially if I have been injured and am in pain. I know how important rest is to healing and recharging yourself. But this was different. This was that way we get that is no good for us, keeps us from reaching our goals, keeps us from acting in a way that best serves the big picture we have for our health and happiness. Knowing I can overcome that voice, even when it overpowers all my other thoughts, by taking some action and "doing" despite what it says, is key. The fuzzy pants will have to wait, I need some taekwondo.
The new voice was trying hard, struggling to be heard. "Just go to class, you will feel better afterward, and if you don't go you will feel guilty and bad all week." "You can just take it easy in class and make sure you don't hurt yourself." Hmmm... "Jammies!!" one voice shouted. "Get your uniform on!" the other one protested.
So I actually went and changed into my jammies. Ahhhh, fuzzy pants, you feel so good. One more night of sitting on my butt won't hurt. But there was something wrong...something inside of me that felt so bad about that decision wasn't letting it go. Normally once I actually get the fuzzy pants on, that is it, done, no matter what voices appear at that point, they already lost. But this time, something else fought hard. So I went back into the bedroom and despite the nagging, "Ugh" feeling I had, I took off the pants and put on my uniform. Through the continued thoughts of my couch, I put on my socks and tied up my shoes, and grabbed my keys and walked out the door. I started the car and the voice interrupted "It's not too late, go back, the fuzzy pants are waiting!"
Class was spectacular, as usual. My injury felt much better, especially after I got going, warmed up and the blood was flowing. Helicopter kicks were feeling good. And even better than that, I was smiling. On the outside and the inside. Whoever was fighting for me was victorious. Thank goodness. I like that girl.
I know that it is okay to rest, especially if I have been injured and am in pain. I know how important rest is to healing and recharging yourself. But this was different. This was that way we get that is no good for us, keeps us from reaching our goals, keeps us from acting in a way that best serves the big picture we have for our health and happiness. Knowing I can overcome that voice, even when it overpowers all my other thoughts, by taking some action and "doing" despite what it says, is key. The fuzzy pants will have to wait, I need some taekwondo.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
What Do You Love?
Yes, what, not who. What do you love to do? What, when you are in the middle of doing it, immerses you in the moment to the degree that all other thoughts are wiped clean out of your mind? Make a list of these things. If you don't have more than one, start your list with one thing. If you have many, you are blessed!
What, when you are in the middle of doing it, makes you light up inside and outside, forces a crazy smile onto your face that you can't get rid of, and lights a fire inside of you that is so bright it shines on everyone around you? What is that thing you are thinking of right now, that maybe you wish you were doing as you are reading this, and you smile just thinking about it?
Passions, my friends, are what these things are. They are what make life sweet and juicy and they are what, when you find them, make you think there must be a purpose to this amazing life we are living. Life is good. And life is magical in the middle of passion.
So how are you pursing yours? Are you pursuing yours? Do you know what they are? Start with something little (or big) and go do it, in whatever capacity you can. Make time for it and let it nourish your soul. Let it take over, get addicted to it. Be grateful for it and imagine that through it you are saving the world.
What, when you are in the middle of doing it, makes you light up inside and outside, forces a crazy smile onto your face that you can't get rid of, and lights a fire inside of you that is so bright it shines on everyone around you? What is that thing you are thinking of right now, that maybe you wish you were doing as you are reading this, and you smile just thinking about it?
Passions, my friends, are what these things are. They are what make life sweet and juicy and they are what, when you find them, make you think there must be a purpose to this amazing life we are living. Life is good. And life is magical in the middle of passion.
So how are you pursing yours? Are you pursuing yours? Do you know what they are? Start with something little (or big) and go do it, in whatever capacity you can. Make time for it and let it nourish your soul. Let it take over, get addicted to it. Be grateful for it and imagine that through it you are saving the world.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Just Red
So at a recent get together with some of my taekwondo classmates I over heard something I thought was interesting. When asked what belt they were, many of my friends were saying "Oh I am just a red belt."
:(
JUST A RED BELT????
Really now, you need to know that getting to the red belt takes a lot of practice, determination, perseverance and dedication. Not everyone makes it to the red belt. In the six years I have been practicing, I have watched people drop out at various stages for various reasons. When you are promoted to your red belt you are in a preparation stage for the black belt. You will focus on what you need to learn for the next bit of time, and believe me, take the time, you will need it! Enjoy every bit of red! It goes so fast and you have heard it before, it is about the journey, not the destination...
So today I want all you red belts (and every other color for that matter) to be totally proud of what you have accomplished. I am proud to know you, to train with you, and to be sharing this awesome sport with you!
Wishing you great kicks!
Laura
:(
JUST A RED BELT????
Really now, you need to know that getting to the red belt takes a lot of practice, determination, perseverance and dedication. Not everyone makes it to the red belt. In the six years I have been practicing, I have watched people drop out at various stages for various reasons. When you are promoted to your red belt you are in a preparation stage for the black belt. You will focus on what you need to learn for the next bit of time, and believe me, take the time, you will need it! Enjoy every bit of red! It goes so fast and you have heard it before, it is about the journey, not the destination...
So today I want all you red belts (and every other color for that matter) to be totally proud of what you have accomplished. I am proud to know you, to train with you, and to be sharing this awesome sport with you!
Wishing you great kicks!
Laura
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Decide What Your Life is About
"If you don't decide what your life is about, it defaults to what you spend your days doing."
Robert Brault
So pursue your passions every day in some small way. Take an action toward your dreams. Love a lot. Forgive readily. Enjoy your journey. Keep your body and mind busy with healthy things. Do more taekwondo...or knitting, or cooking, or soccer, or reading, or...
If your job sucks and and you are just making a living, make the most of where you are with what you have and make connections. Put some energy into that one person who you seem to jive with. And spend the rest of your moments imagining the best, most exciting and fulfilling job...imagine waking up in the morning totally jazzed to go to work because it feels like play. Feel the emotions of it like you already have it. Fake it a little if you have to.
What is getting in the way of you deciding what your life is about? And what will you do about it?
TGIT (yes, Thursday is just as good as any other day for a miracle)
Robert Brault
So pursue your passions every day in some small way. Take an action toward your dreams. Love a lot. Forgive readily. Enjoy your journey. Keep your body and mind busy with healthy things. Do more taekwondo...or knitting, or cooking, or soccer, or reading, or...
If your job sucks and and you are just making a living, make the most of where you are with what you have and make connections. Put some energy into that one person who you seem to jive with. And spend the rest of your moments imagining the best, most exciting and fulfilling job...imagine waking up in the morning totally jazzed to go to work because it feels like play. Feel the emotions of it like you already have it. Fake it a little if you have to.
What is getting in the way of you deciding what your life is about? And what will you do about it?
TGIT (yes, Thursday is just as good as any other day for a miracle)
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