September 24, 2008

New Attitude

Going back to class on Saturday lit a fire under me. Yesterday, I strapped Lil C on the back of Mr. BBM’s bike and went riding for 30 minutes. No small feat when Lil C is getting bigger everyday and on a bike that is too big for me. When we returned from the bike ride, we took a walk for another 15 minutes. Then we played soccer in the front yard. I am convinced Lil C is going to be a soccer Olympian one day. The kid dribbles the ball better than I do (of course, this is not saying much).

Today, the only thing sore on me after all that exercise is my knee, my right knee, not the knee that got the ACL reconstruction surgery. I’m contemplating finding a nice comfortable, supportive brace for my "healthy" knee. I don’t want to repeat the ACL saga on the other side. I just can’t do it again. I think my right knee has just had it with all the extra responsibility I’ve been placing on it for the past year. It wants to be babied too. The problem is that I can’t baby them both.

I think I’m going to try one of the evening classes this week at the dojo. These classes have a lot more people in them and they tend to have a lot of high ranking belts in them, but I see it as just another step in the process of getting back to the dojo full time. If I need to sit something out, I’ll do it. If I’m the only one standing for the rei in, so be it. I’m learning to accept these hopefully temporary restrictions and everyone else will just have to as well.

Since I went to class on Saturday, my attitude has been completely different. Going to class and getting back to the routine that was once so therapeutic for me just feels so incredibly good. I honestly don’t know how I stayed away for so long. I need this and I’m going to make it work.

If you are a martial artist, don’t forget to check out "Bags of Character." A friend of mine from the dojo makes beautiful, hand-made kobudo weapons bags and you can view them here.