March 11, 12

Well, it has been another great week in the life of a martial artist! I am pleased with how I am doing with my requirements. By that I don't mean the numbers and how many I am doing of everything, but more important to me, is my attitude towards my training, and towards myself as a martial artist, and towards other areas in my life as well. I see such a huge difference in myself, and having this positive attitude really makes life so much easier and funner, and more rewarding. I know I keep saying this week after week, but I just can't get over the difference in my whole outlook on EVERYTHING since I made the decision to commit to my training.

I still keep a running record of all the time I spend on my kung fu. Last week, I decided to average it out. I do kung fu on an average of 2 hours every day. Wowzers!! Two months ago, I couldn't find the time to do 10 minutes every day. I don't really know how I managed to find the time, but I just did. I want to do these requirements and I want to do them well, and I want to do them to the best of my ability. I have found a schedule that works well for me, and I stick to it. I get up early every week day to do my workouts at 5 before I go to work. This works best for me because I do have a full and part time job, and I am very involved with my family. It also works well, because it relieves a lot of stress knowing that my work outs are done, and I am fresh and not pooped out from work. More often than not, I go work out with my close friend in the evenings as well, but these workouts are just an added bonus, as I have already done my morning one. This keeps me on top of things and often ahead.

For me, keeping a schedule is everything. Getting up each morning at 4:30 to go work out has come to be a part of my regular weekday routine. I never have to ask myself, "should I, or shouldn't I?" There is no decision to make. I already made it. I made the decision when I said, "yes", I would complete these requirements. It was up to me to find a way how. I think, for me, I have found the way to do it.

Another part of my daily routine is my readings. I read every night before bed, and part of the readings I do is reading "Mastery". I don't want to get all freaked out at the end of the year and feel a rush to memorize it. So, I read it every night before bed, and at the very least, I read parts of it. Now, I don't need to read the words of certain parts of it, because I have already read it so many times, I know it off by heart. I do part of my meditation at night as well, because that is when it is the quietest in my community, and it gives me a chance to evaluate my day, and myself.

My journaling has become a regular part of my Sunday. This way I don't have to try and remember when I journaled last. I write my journal on Sunday, and it's done. Period. If I journal again on another day of the week, again, it becomes a bonus, but I know that my minimum is done because I did it on Sunday. This is also the day that I take time to read other journals, and gain from them.

Thinking about all this let's me see the regular structure of my daily life that I have now, and was perhaps missing for some time. I do like to be spontaneous, and I often am, and I have my free times to do as I like, but structure is good too. I see my training as becoming a very structured part of my life. My kids have adjusted to my schedule as well, and they know that when I say I can't do something like babysit a grandchild because I am doing kung fu, there are no more questions asked. They know this is a priority for me and they respect that.

I write this entry, not for the benefits of others, as selfish as that may sound, but more for myself. On the days that I am not feeling so terrific, I will come back and read this, and rekindle my attitude and enthusiasm for my training, as well as the commitment I have made and why I have made it. I know there will be those days, as I would be ignorant to think otherwise. But bring them on! I think I am ready for 'em!