Sunday, May 31, 2009

Limitations

We all have limitations, an upper limit on what we can do and accomplish. We are human and therefore have limited potential.

Did that sound negative? Keep reading.

Sometimes we have a very clear picture of our limitations. I have flat feet, and if I train barefoot my plantar fasciitis flares up.

Sometimes the picture is much hazier. I was never very good at pushups (I despised pushups, so I didn't train them, so I stayed not very good at them). I always just said, "I'm lousy at pushups."

Then, I started this Ten Tigers Program, and now I'm averaging over 100 pushups per day. Now I'm pretty good at them. I can do 46 in 30 seconds, and 63 in one minute. My limitation has changed.

We all have upper limits, but we often don't really know what that upper limit is because we never test them.

I don't really know the top speed on my Toyota Camry because I've never tested it (and never will).

I have decided that I will keep gradually pushing myself to bigger and better things, to test my upper limits.

I will become stronger and fitter, I will become smarter and more emotionally healthy, I will become a better teacher of martial arts and a better leader of people.

And, I will drag as many of you as are willing along for the ride.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Thank You

To all those who have been helping with our move.  To all who have supported us through this move.  To all who have been willing, but unable to help.  

Thank you.

We are in a smaller school now, but it's big enough.

I happen to believe that bigger is not necessarily better.  I believe that too many of us have been fixated on bigger/richer/faster is better.  I believe there is a time to downsize, a time to give away wealth, and a time to slow down.  Money for money's sake is a waste of time.  Having a bigger truck/house/yard for the sake of status is a waste of resources.  Getting everything the moment we want it is detrimental to our ability to work towards a goal.

Can you make do with less?  Can you be wait for the things you want?  It's harder than it sounds.

Again, to all who have given so much in moving and remodeling and preparing for this change I cannot thank you enough.  I cannot pay all the favors back.  My plan, instead, is to pay it forward.