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Monthly Message: January 2004
Fellow Karate-ka:
Welcome to the New
Year. This is the popular time of the year in the beginning of January
when everyone has a tendency to look back at the previous year to see
what has happened. Mostly they look at entertainment things like who was
popular, who dated who, who died, who became famous, etc. They also look
at what happened in the world and in our own country that made a mark in
history.
The beginning of January is also a time that people make new commitments
or New Years resolutions. We all have heard of these. Two of the more
popular ones are to lose weight and to stop smoking.
All these things are good but I'm sad to report that most people do not
look back at the right things in the previous year and unfortunately do
not keep their resolutions past February. So how should we look back and
how do we keep our resolutions?
Objective observation and moderation are the key words that will set us
on the right path. We must look at the previous year viewing ourselves
in it and get out of the entertainment mode. We must look at our
previous accomplishments and failures and determine how they have
changed us. Have they enhanced us as people? Are we physically better?
How about emotionally? Have we learned new things? In essence, have we
bettered ourselves through our experiences and have we learned from our
failures.
Once we have done this we can then look at the present and realize where
we stand with ourselves. Where we are right now. Only from this point
can we plan and set goals for the future. In this case we can call our
goals resolutions. What do we hope to accomplish in the year 2004?
Through karate training we can reach our resolutions or goals. Our
training teaches us moderation. We can not do everything at once. We
must work towards our goals without biting off more than we can chew.
Inch by inch is a sinch. Yard by yard is very hard.
Once we set our goals or make our resolutions we must choose or create a
path that will get us to accomplish our goals. A step by step approach
is the most common way of doing this. As an example you may wish to
become a Yudansha this year (black belt rank). How will you achieve
this? The steps that you could use to get there are suggested below.
- Know what you
want.
- Envision
yourself getting it.
- Attend karate
class regularly.
- Practice at
home a little every day.
- Help teach the
children's classes.
- Know your
requirements.
- Learn your
requirements.
- Advance to the
appropriate belt levels.
- Test for
Shodan.
- Pass the test.
These steps are an
example of the things to do to reach your goal. By concentrating on a
few things at a time you begin your journey to your goal. You can not do
everything at once and expect to achieve your goal.
All things in life are like this. Do not look to do everything at once.
You will burn out and end up losing sight of your goal. Create steps
that will help you reach your goals. Yes you will make mistakes along
the way. Learn from them and remember to never ever quit or give up.
Remember a long journey begins with a single step.
This is the way.
Sensei Dave
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