Appreciation and Energy

So I was pretty sure that today was going to suck.

Three years ago today my mom died.
I am missing Jo, and Grisha, and our pets, and home.
Even so, it was a sobering realization that today is my last full day here in Minden, NV and that means leaving the physical presence of all the goodness that is Dave and Mary Ann McNeill.

But today was totally amazing!

Had a great 3rd Dan Goju-Shorei testing this morning with Caesar, and Marta assisting.  It was invigorating and fun and energizing for all of us. And yes, he absolutely passed.

Then Pete came to the house and we had an awesome time with some pretty amazing healing energy work and discussion along with a guided mediation.  Thank you so much Pete.  I always enjoy our time together and learn so much.

Then Dave and Mary Ann and I went up to Lake Tahoe for lunch.  I had some of Mary Ann's calamari and it truly was delicious.  Then we walked around and had the most spectacular time.

Once we got home, I got to work with Soke in the Shed on Roku Empi and go over some of the reworking I've done on the Yellow Rank in GSWS.

And what an ending the evening, with Mary Ann helping me understand more about healing through her uses of essential oils and Healing Hands energy work.  Of COURSE I asked if she would SHOW me... and so after what seemed like moments on the massage table (but was actually like probably 30-45 minutes) I was blissed out.    Blissed   Out.

Happy, Appreciative, and Energized in a very relaxed and mellow way - that would be the best way to describe it.

That would be the best way to describe my day.

Several times today I could hear my mom saying "What a glorious day the Lord has made..." and it was.

Love and Respect,
Kathy Wiz

The Shed

The "Shed" is Soke Dave McNeill's dojo out behind his house. 

Here is the door to the Shed.  After class tonight we each hit the makiwara 100 times with each hand.

And then here is look inside...

And then a look back toward the house...

The size of the Shed is 28 feet by 40 feet.

Check out my long term goals...

     http://growingtowards8.blogspot.com/2016/05/long-term-tkd-goals.html

: )

Love and Respect,

Kathy Wiz

Reaching a Goal - or - So now what?

So this is how I felt yesterday.

Today, I'm REALLY tired and things are aching some.  : )

That's o.k. - in fact it's great!  It makes me ready to get back on the floor.  I'm teaching the weapons class here tomorrow in "the Shed" and I can't wait.

That's the big thing I've been thinking about today.  "What is next?"
I want to savor the moment and enjoy this and relax a little, but I part of doing that is getting back on the floor. There is so much I want to do - so much I want to work on.

In some ways things feel really different now.  I've never met a woman who held a rank higher than 7th Dan in any martial art, and now I do.  And that feels really big. I also felt better than I have in years out on the floor yesterday, but I know that I can and will do even better in the coming months.  I was happy with the testing Saturday - SO HAPPY - but not satisfied - definitely not done.  If anything, I am more motivated than ever to get out there and work on some things that I know can get better.

In other ways, I feel very much the same.  And in truth, how could I be so different from the person who stepped on the floor as a 7th Dan at 9:59 am yesterday morning?

So now what?

In terms of this blog, I will continue to post daily through June 11th.  That is what I agreed to do and I want to see it through.  Then, I will close this blog, and by that I mean that I will no longer create new posts - June 11th will be the last.

This blog has been about growing towards an 8th Dan.  Now that I'm there having just officially crossed over into that rank, I want to grow INTO it, so I'm considering creating a new blog "Growing INTO a TKD 8th Dan" - but right now I still have this one to finish, so we will see.

I've already posted my short term and long term goals, so there's also that ...

: )

Right now though, for the rest of this week - I'm going to focus on enjoying the view from this pinnacle, catch my breath, savor the accomplishment with my family and friends, and then start planning the ascent on the next summit.

Love and Respect,

Kathy Wiz

My heart is full

There is so much to say about today, but it is late and I think the adrenalin has worn off...

Let me start by acknowledging that - my heart is full - it truly is.

The amount of support I have been and continue to receive is without measure.

I am blessed.

I am grateful.

I am HAPPY.

And even though right at this moment I am so tired that I could sleep on a bed of nails...
I'm also beyond pumped and excited about the future and my role in martial arts!

Tonight though - rest and sleep and happy dreams.

Good night!

Love and Respect,
Kathy Wiz

!!!

"So Kathy, what did you do today?"

Well, I'm glad you asked... 

I got to start the morning off with some self defense discussion and practice with the wonderful Patti Oji, and then?

Well, we flew in an awesome private jet from Carson City, NV over to Napa, CA to pick up Grandmaster Dewart and his wife, eat an amazing lunch, and then fly back to spend some time at Soke's home and dojo  -  talking martial arts all the time of course!

John (on the far left above) is the most excellent pilot and owner of this amazing aircraft - AND he volunteered to be the uke for me at my test tomorrow too!

And did I mention all the wonderful posts and emails and texts and phone calls I've been getting?!?!

What an outstanding day!

Respectfully,

Kathy Wiz

OH! And did I mention my new cane that has Lapis inlays????

But it is a DRY heat...

So I'm changing planes here in Phoenix.

I don't have to go outside to go from gate C18 to gate D5 - thank goodness!

It is 105 degrees here at 7 pm!  (But I'm sure it is a dry heat... like an oven...)

I'm drinking lots of water - in general lately - and more intentionally today.

I'll be boarding my flight to Reno in about 30 minutes, but I wanted to get this posted as I'm sure that once we get to the house I'll have no trouble falling asleep since it will feel like 1:00 am or even later to me.

Tomorrow we fly over to pick up Grand Master Dewart and his wife... pictures of that for sure in my next post.

Thank you everyone for the support and encouragement - it is appreciated more than you could ever know.

Respectfully,

Kathy Wiz

Testing T-Shirt

My new T-shirt!  I'm going to wear it testing day!

This has always been one of my favorite sayings, and it is especially poignant now that I'm trying to naviagate the 7 to 8...

Doing most of the packing tonight as my plane leaves tomorrow early evening - arriving in Reno close to 11 p.m. 

It has been too long since I've been to Soke's.  I'm so excited!

Nervous - yes - for sure.

Why?

Because this matters to me.  

The people on this board matter to me.

Because the people I'm trying to represent - my martial arts family - matter to me.

Because I don't want to disappoint myself - or them.

I need to remember that this is NOT a one shot deal - this is another step on my path.

And not the end of my journey by any means, regardless of the outcome!

Fall down 7 ?

Get up 8 !

Respectfully,

Kathy Wz