When you compete in any combat sport, you get a snapshot of
your soul. Who you are in competition is
who you are in life, stripped down, no pretenses, just you. I learn more about myself from fighting and
training than I do anywhere else in my life.
When you are in survival mode there is no time to
contemplate manipulation, to lie to yourself, or present yourself as something
other than who you are. If you hesitate
for ½ a second you could end up flat on your back, game over. Oh believe me, there is plenty of
manipulation and deception that takes place in competition. But, it has all been rehearsed, repeated, and
perfected in the gym until it is executed as instinct. In other words, you created something
different in yourself and the snapshot is of a different you.
In my last fight, I saw courage, patience, and an ability to
adapt to unexpected situations. I also
saw a woman who was waiting for her opportunities instead of creating
them. I was playing my opponent’s game,
and I lost. I started noticing the same
things happening in the rest of my life and I began making changes. This requires a constant and conscious effort
to be the person I want to be. It’s not
easy, but when I consider the alternative, I don’t really have a choice.
If I only choose to accept what is given to me, maybe I win
the lottery, maybe I die in poverty. I
have no responsibility for the consequences of either. Too many of my peers choose this route. I’ve discovered when you take away that
responsibility, you can allow your fear of failure to prevent you from taking
chances for success.
A glimpse inside myself can come from a million places, a
child mimicking my behavior, an aging relative, a random act of kindness or
social perceptions, reactions or labels.
I can choose to accept that this is who I am or I can foster those
qualities I like and change those that I don’t.
If I want to improve as a martial artist, I must
choose to improve as a human being.www.KatieCasimir.com
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