Letter of Intent

In Sept. 2007, I laid out the plans for my journey to my black belt test. The plans have changed many times so far but the goal remains the same. In the last week of April 2009, I handed in my letter of intent (a requirement for black belt grading). It requires that you put in writing your intent to grade for black belt. It's just a few lines, a simple request, one more thing checked off my list. Ha! Who knew something so small could have such a large impact? It changed everything and made my sights on my goal more clear (which I didn't think was possible). I have been more focused and committed during this journey than I had thought possible and I think that I was seeing my end goal with rose-colored glasses. Now it seems real, doable, reachable. Not the distant goal from 2007 but the attainable, in the moment, right now goal. I'm not sure if I'm explaining this well, this has had such a huge impact on me, it seems like words are inadequate. I can clearly visualize myself reaching my goal and it feels right. I am not longer nervous or anxious, I am excited and the thought in the forefront of my mind is. 'I'm doing this.'

Each day, all day, I am engaged in my training. Quitting,being too tired, or not feeling like it are no longer part of my world. I just keep going.