Well here it is the first of January 2011.
A new day....a new year.....
Last year I made a list of 30 fun things to do and achieve.
Some things I had never tried and had fun just having a go at.
Paintball on my birthday was so much fun with all the girls.
Climbing the Harbour Bridge in the pouring rain is a great story I will retell again and again.
I bought and handled a raw lobster and cooked him up....and ate him.
I taught my son how to blow bubbles with bubble gum...ran one kilometre without stopping...and finished off the year by becoming a 1st Dan black belt in karate.
So you may ask did I achieve them all. The answer is NO. There were a few that just didn't happen either due to time, money or just plain convenience. But I am not disappointed at all...and as you know I am a 'tick the box' kind of person.
In life circumstances change all the time and you just have to roll with it.
My list was there to have fun and try new things which I did....and that was the whole point of the list.
So now a new year has begun....and I have a whole new list.
And why not? Life is all about having fun.
Here it is...and I hope it inspires you to be creative and try some new things.
2011 To-do list
1. Make homemade croissants
2. Make homemade hot cross buns
3. Cook peking duck
4. Cook something 'flaming'
5. Host a japanese dinner party
6. Learn the names of the bible in order
7. Watch 'The Shining'
8. Watch 'The Godfather' trilogy
9. Movie marathon
10. Learn basic french
11. Go jetty jumping
12. Ride a jet ski
13. Kick a door in
14. Break plates 'greek style'
15. Visit Byron Bay
16. Visit South West Rocks
17. Learn the Hoedown Throwdown
18. Ride in a hot air balloon
19. Fire a weapon (carried over from last year)
20. Black belt confirmed
Showing posts with label karate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label karate. Show all posts
Friday, December 31, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
What a black belt means to me
As part of my black belt grading in 7 weeks, I have to write a one page essay on what a black belt means to me. This is what I submitted.
I strongly believe that you are never too old to learn something new.
It saddens me when people feel that they are ‘past their use by date’ and have nothing to offer society. Elderly people have so much wisdom and experience that they can share with others.
When my sons chose to learn karate three years ago I felt it would be something I could also enjoy doing, both for exercise and to have something in common with my boys.
After completing my first belt (gold) I realised that I thoroughly enjoyed the process of classes, learning Japanese, grading and achieving belts step by step.
I then set myself the goal of achieving my black belt.
As someone who works full time, has church commitments and is a mother with children to organise and run around, there are some busy and hectic days where the last thing I feel like doing is exercising. At almost forty years of age, my body also feels very differently now doing karate than what it did twenty years ago when I was dancing. Headaches and back pain are more frequent now. However, the thought of the goal that I had set myself encouraged me to push through on those days. My mindset for the past year was to push through as “a black belt doesn’t give up”.
I have found that if you want something enough, prioritise your time and finances that all things are achievable. I do not aim for perfection but I do plan to be the best me I can be, enjoying every experience that life has to offer me and hopefully inspiring other people to do the same.
I feel that I have had the heart of a black belt for some time and by completing the grade I will confirm to my instructors and to myself that I know and understand the training I have received over the past three years.
By achieving the standard of ‘black belt’ I will feel proud of myself for achieving the goal that I set three years ago and for having the determination to push through on days when I didn’t feel like it.
I strongly believe that you are never too old to learn something new.
It saddens me when people feel that they are ‘past their use by date’ and have nothing to offer society. Elderly people have so much wisdom and experience that they can share with others.
When my sons chose to learn karate three years ago I felt it would be something I could also enjoy doing, both for exercise and to have something in common with my boys.
After completing my first belt (gold) I realised that I thoroughly enjoyed the process of classes, learning Japanese, grading and achieving belts step by step.
I then set myself the goal of achieving my black belt.
As someone who works full time, has church commitments and is a mother with children to organise and run around, there are some busy and hectic days where the last thing I feel like doing is exercising. At almost forty years of age, my body also feels very differently now doing karate than what it did twenty years ago when I was dancing. Headaches and back pain are more frequent now. However, the thought of the goal that I had set myself encouraged me to push through on those days. My mindset for the past year was to push through as “a black belt doesn’t give up”.
I have found that if you want something enough, prioritise your time and finances that all things are achievable. I do not aim for perfection but I do plan to be the best me I can be, enjoying every experience that life has to offer me and hopefully inspiring other people to do the same.
I feel that I have had the heart of a black belt for some time and by completing the grade I will confirm to my instructors and to myself that I know and understand the training I have received over the past three years.
By achieving the standard of ‘black belt’ I will feel proud of myself for achieving the goal that I set three years ago and for having the determination to push through on days when I didn’t feel like it.
Monday, April 5, 2010
It's the little things...
I have to share this with you because I am just so tickled with myself right now.
Today I ticked off one of the things on my to-do list - I ran a whole kilometre without stopping.
Now some of you are thinking...is that all?
But you have to realise what an achievement this is FOR ME.
As a teenager, I used to be quite good at long distance and cross country running before being a dancer. It was then all about flexibility and co-ordination. After having two children I never really did anything that needed stamina.
Needless to say when I started karate two years ago, the flexibility and co-ordination served me well and I found that I picked up many things quite easily but my stamina always let me down.
Last Christmas, when I went for my first major grade to get my brown belt, part of the grading included a quick run around the block which was exactly one kilometre. This was supposed to be part of the warm-up. I ran part, walked a bit, ran some more, and finished last. It was not a race I was told but I still felt like that last lonely little rhino who comes puffing along a minute after the stampede in the movie Jumanji. I then learned that each major grade involves this run.
I thought to myself, c'mon one kilometre is nothing! You just need to work on your fitness. So when I sat down and made my fun list for the year I also included a few small personal goals that were just for me. Finishing last is still finishing right?
That's the great things with small personal goals. It doesn't matter what anybody else thinks. I have friends who can run 4-5kms and while I can admire them and cheer them on, I won't compare myself to them. We all have different challenges in our lives. We all had different upbringings. We all have strengths and we all have our weaknesses. I'm a big believer in being the best YOU that YOU can be!
So today when I set out, I went by myself, and jogged at a slow relaxed pace.
And you know what? I came in first!! (ha ha ha)
When I made it, I must admit, I also did the "Rocky" boxer bounce with my arms raised in victory for no-one in particular.
Actually I did. I did it just for me.
Today I ticked off one of the things on my to-do list - I ran a whole kilometre without stopping.
Now some of you are thinking...is that all?
But you have to realise what an achievement this is FOR ME.
As a teenager, I used to be quite good at long distance and cross country running before being a dancer. It was then all about flexibility and co-ordination. After having two children I never really did anything that needed stamina.
Needless to say when I started karate two years ago, the flexibility and co-ordination served me well and I found that I picked up many things quite easily but my stamina always let me down.
Last Christmas, when I went for my first major grade to get my brown belt, part of the grading included a quick run around the block which was exactly one kilometre. This was supposed to be part of the warm-up. I ran part, walked a bit, ran some more, and finished last. It was not a race I was told but I still felt like that last lonely little rhino who comes puffing along a minute after the stampede in the movie Jumanji. I then learned that each major grade involves this run.
I thought to myself, c'mon one kilometre is nothing! You just need to work on your fitness. So when I sat down and made my fun list for the year I also included a few small personal goals that were just for me. Finishing last is still finishing right?
That's the great things with small personal goals. It doesn't matter what anybody else thinks. I have friends who can run 4-5kms and while I can admire them and cheer them on, I won't compare myself to them. We all have different challenges in our lives. We all had different upbringings. We all have strengths and we all have our weaknesses. I'm a big believer in being the best YOU that YOU can be!
So today when I set out, I went by myself, and jogged at a slow relaxed pace.
And you know what? I came in first!! (ha ha ha)
When I made it, I must admit, I also did the "Rocky" boxer bounce with my arms raised in victory for no-one in particular.
Actually I did. I did it just for me.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Finish the race
There is a line in a Brooke Fraser song that says, "I'll run til I finish the race".
I don't want to just cross the finish line. I want to do it with a smile on my face.
I want to get to the end of my life, look back and say 'WOW'. No regrets.
I didn't chicken out of something because I was too afraid.
I didn't stop trying because it was too hard.
I got back up when I got knocked to the ground.
I had fun trying things that were new.
I laughed at myself when I had no idea what I was doing.
A few years ago the movie "The Bucket List" came out with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. They each had a list of things they wanted to do or experience before they died.
So of course, then became the fad of writing our own bucket lists.
I never wanted to have a "bucket list" linking it with the thought that death will surely follow.
Instead I started thinking of all the fun ways I can experience life right now.
In January, the talk turned to "New Years Resolutions" which of course just reminds me of the good intentions we all have to lose weight, get fit and feel like a failure by January 15th when the novelty has already worn off....
So this year I made myself a to-do list. Not a bucket list and not a resolution.
30 fun things to do for the first time, try for the first time or experience for the first time.
A few years ago I tried snow skiing. I'm not very good. I'm actually too slow and cautious to achieve the thrill that my sons demonstrated and will probably never do it again, but I can say I've tried it and I did it.
I started karate two years ago after what seemed like a lifetime of teaching little girls to dance. I am planning to grade for my black belt this December.
This year I plan on climbing the Harbour Bridge, riding in a helicopter, boiling my own lobster, try paintball, donate blood, learn the tango and ride in a limo (to name a few) just because I can!
Is there anything you've always wanted to do? It's never too late.....
I don't want to just cross the finish line. I want to do it with a smile on my face.
I want to get to the end of my life, look back and say 'WOW'. No regrets.
I didn't chicken out of something because I was too afraid.
I didn't stop trying because it was too hard.
I got back up when I got knocked to the ground.
I had fun trying things that were new.
I laughed at myself when I had no idea what I was doing.
A few years ago the movie "The Bucket List" came out with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. They each had a list of things they wanted to do or experience before they died.
So of course, then became the fad of writing our own bucket lists.
I never wanted to have a "bucket list" linking it with the thought that death will surely follow.
Instead I started thinking of all the fun ways I can experience life right now.
In January, the talk turned to "New Years Resolutions" which of course just reminds me of the good intentions we all have to lose weight, get fit and feel like a failure by January 15th when the novelty has already worn off....
So this year I made myself a to-do list. Not a bucket list and not a resolution.
30 fun things to do for the first time, try for the first time or experience for the first time.
A few years ago I tried snow skiing. I'm not very good. I'm actually too slow and cautious to achieve the thrill that my sons demonstrated and will probably never do it again, but I can say I've tried it and I did it.
I started karate two years ago after what seemed like a lifetime of teaching little girls to dance. I am planning to grade for my black belt this December.
This year I plan on climbing the Harbour Bridge, riding in a helicopter, boiling my own lobster, try paintball, donate blood, learn the tango and ride in a limo (to name a few) just because I can!
Is there anything you've always wanted to do? It's never too late.....
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