I’m Getting Better Fom My Boo Boo

Kind Academy Family,

Going on two weeks ago I did the unthinkable in that I allowed my EGO to override the voice in my head that said “Enough Dummy!”, thus gifted myself with a fairly strained calf muscle.

You see, even though we need 24 classes in order to earn the red testing stripe, I had a number in my mind for the classes I would attend. 50. No one but me knew that, because each month I write my Martial Arts goals on a piece of paper where I constantly see it, but share it with no one. I’m afraid to come across as a blowhard overachiever. I was at 48 classes when I was gifted with a strained muscle; a muscle that reminded me to be a little more humble if I ever wanted to walk up stairs or play with horses.

I'm not quite 14 days into recovery. I wish there was a Betty Ford clinic for overachiever Martial Arts students. But I am stretching daily, as well as doing gentle Yoga. I’m actually walking up the stairs, even though most of the stairs are “up with the good and down with the bad”. Hippies can relate.

Martial Arts wise, this was probably the best thing that could have happened to me. My calf has taught me to slow down. I appreciate that Black Belt is not another thing to cross off my to do list.

Yup, I am doing Conquest and Quick Silver (completely), but I am not doing any flying front kicks. Probably lazy, I guess. My wife has actually learned 360 back rounds and she practices them on my head at least three times a day.

Pain in my leg is not really an issue as I am mindful enough to be safe while moving and walking. The mind thing is really what sucks. Folks familiar with counseling types topic may be aware of something called Positive Addiction. Evidently, it is possible to develop an addiction to something that is beneficial to one. I went through that with marathon running, and I have it with banjo playing. Good thing I don’t drink.

With a positive addiction, the person gets cranky, weird, angry, and generally not nice to be around if the addiction is not fed. I do my forms, watch my videos, drive on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and curse Mr. Carley for Marine workouts; I do those between other stuff. 20 minutes on, exercise, 20 minutes…. I won’t brag about how many sets of 25 I can do, but just say it’s a lot and I am becoming addicted to pushups. All kinds. NO BURBEES!

The point of all this is to say, I intend to be back, and work toward the next belt. I hope soon, but the Doc says 4-6 weeks minimum. Obviously, he doesn’t appreciate positive addiction.

Lesson Learned:

Enjoy the journey, but take time to see the cool things around you.

Be silly, be ambitious, but be mindful.

4 A’s. AWARE. ACKNOWLEDGE. ACCEPT. TAKE ACTION.

Mr. .Rospenda