NO THANK YOU!

Taking steroids up your nose is NOT fun...that is all...

Sick!

I have been so sick the last few days. I have a sore throat, painful ears, and a headache. I have actually missed a few classes which I have not done since my sophomore year. Being sick really makes you miss your mom, but luckily Jason has been taking excellent care of me. I cannot wait to feel better and eat some REAL food. I am a juicy hamburger kind of girl, so these noodles are not cutting it!

All I gotta say is...I BETTER BE BETTER BY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Martial Arts

In the (almost) two years that Jason and I have been together he has given me many things, watches, expensive purses, vacations, etc, but by far the best thing he has given me is Martial Arts.

When I first started going to the karate studio it was strictly to see Jason and keep his attention. I felt extremely uncoordinated, was nervous, and honestly did not like it. By the time of my first belt test Jason and I were a couple. When it was time for me to take my test I felt like I was going to throw up...I WAS SO NERVOUS. When conditioning was over Jason said to the testing group, "Congratulations, you've all completed the test...except for Laura...she has to break a board inorder to get her belt." I was stunned, wasn't he supposed to be extra nice to me? I walked up to the people holding the board for me to break and I'm sure everyone could see me shaking. Jason looked at me and said, "I want you to focus, I know you can do this." I decided to break the board with my elbow so I got lined up, focus, and threw my elbow. There was a loud crack and my elbow went through the board. Later that night I asked Jason why he had made me break a board, "Because I wanted you to know that you could," he told me.

Since then I have grown to LOVE Martial Arts and all that it represents. I can't wait for my classes, seminars, and often go to the studio just to help teach the lower belts.

What people who aren't involved don't understand is that Martial Arts is about so much more than kicking and punching. It is about having an indomitable spirit and never settling. I have grown so much since starting karate. Little obstacles used to ruin my day, but now I know that I have the ability to overcome these things and continue towards my goal. Jason always quotes Charles R. Swindoll, "Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you to react to it." Sometimes things may not go my way, but I can adapt and things will continue on.

Now don't get me wrong, I can still kick your butt ;) but I will continue to be thankful for not only the skills Martial Arts has provided me, but also for the mindset.