The Real Me

As some of you know, I've been competing in karate tournaments for the past few years and the 2020 season has been put on hold till 2021. I recently competed in a virtual tournament over the weekend and it was an interesting experience. I had to record myself performing my katas and upload the videos to youtube, unlisted.
I got third place in traditional kata and fourth place traditional weapons/tools. I'm sharing said videos because I'm really proud of the improvements I've made during these challenging months.

I hope you enjoy the videos!!!

Kata

Weapons/Tools

Lately, I've been in a weird place and I'm crawling out of it one step at a time. And I've been having a hard time explaining it and I just need to get some stuff off my chest.

Work: So the boss of craziness has been back and how does an environment that was tense get even worse. I hate walking on eggshells and having to explain myself multiple times to be believed. And within the last three weeks, my co-teacher and I had to complete a portfolio for NAEYC that was due Jan 31. In reality, we had about two and a half weeks to complete it. We worked together and got it done. Then today, I was yelled at by my co-teacher because I did not have the attendance completed. While when I realized I had no form to complete it and never got office time to get it done, and having a new child attached to me and would become upset if I left the room, I could not complete this task. So, I feel like I can't do anything right or be human.

Writing: This has gotten better and I'm trying to find a way to keep my confidence up. I've been taking things slow and really working through each step to make my stories better and better. I take the time to write and then go back to it and start the editing process to write again and again. Or write more and more. I've been attempting to try new things and really come out of my comfort zone. I writing what I like and with characters that speak to me. I have yet to rewatch some episodes to watch and study specific characters and have a better connection with said characters for my writing. Really get inside the why of a character and focus on one topic at a time. It's been part of the reason why I have not posted much.

Small Business Building: So this is something I don't talk much away, but I use essential oils and I have liked the benefits I have had with the use of them. And I have the opportunity to grow a business and I just had my first workshop sharing essential oils. It's something I'm willing to try to earn some extra cash and to see if I have the power to grow and meet new people, go out of my comfort zone. It's something I'm going to work slowly on building and seeing how it goes.

Karate: So, I've been doing karate for almost 19 years and just received my 6th Degree Black Belt last month. And last year I attended a few more tournaments that I would normally do, again trying to come out of my comfort zone. So, this year, I made a promise to myself that I would go to all the close to home tournaments and see how I do. See if I receive feedback from the judges and/or the competitors. Right now I have received some wonderful and helpful feedback and I'm so grateful and honored to receive it and accept it (something that's hard to accept in many aspects of my life, writing included). It's never been about the medals or trophies, it's about going out there and taking a chance on myself. Pushing myself to do what I'm capable of doing and achieving. I signed up for this tournament group Ippone and will attempt to complete as many tournaments as I can. At the end of the year, there are special awards given out, I'm curious to see if I would receive any. But I'm trying something new and going outside my comfort zone.

So, last night I went to karate and when I was trying to put my top on before class started, my karate instructor asked to speak with me. At first, I was like, what's going on. He explained why he was meaning me and another student and said, "Once you are a high rank in karate and after 5th degree, you no longer test for your next rank. It's all about dedication and good attendance. So, you both are being promoted to a 6th degree black belt."

I was so shocked and speechless. I didn't even know what to say but thank you. I'm so grateful and honored to receive and achieve this rank in karate. I still can't believe I'm a sixth-degree black belt. WOW!!!