Dojo Diva here to talk more on the Gracie State of Mind. At Gracie-Barra Mansfield, we love serving the DFW community, but through this blog, we can do more. We can share what it means to practice Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, how it goes way beyond becoming a lean, mean fighting machine.
One thing I have been learning a lot about is the “Grace” part of “Gracie.” I have been working hard for over a year to get my blue belt. I was doing great and then got SHINGLES. Ugh. I had to take time off. Then I got started AGAIN and have been going strong since January. Then, last Friday? I was in the Urgent Care.
Poison Ivy. *head desk*
Just about the time I felt I was getting some SERIOUS momentum? I had to take off Saturday and might take off another night… and I am struggling NOT to have a panic attack.
Will I be okay? Will I forget all I know? Will they remember who I am? Will I lose my will to get my blue belt?
*twitch* *twitch*
But I think I am doing better with giving myself more grace. I know that persistence prevails when all else fails. Often it is when we rest, when we cease to stop fighting, that we begin to see real improvement.
More is not always better.
For instance, when I first joined Jiu Jitsu, I used to power through everything. It didn’t take long until I was winded and soaked in sweat…and caught in an arm bar.
WHAT? HOW did THAT happen?
I was going too fast, pressing too hard. I wasn’t pacing myself. I couldn’t understand why the upper belts just kept shaking their heads and telling me that I was “working too hard.”
Of course I am working hard, because this is AMERICA and hard work eventually pays off!
Commies…
Then, last week something changed. Suddenly, I was fine. I was cool, even. I moved with ease and relatively slowly. I stopped to think before making a move…and I was UNSTOPPABLE. When I relaxed and didn’t “try so hard” I actually did a lot better.
But I keep having the same lessons over and over. Giving myself grace. I don’t have to be busy ALL THE TIME. Faster is not better. Working harder isn’t working smarter. It is OKAY to slow down. Taking a day or two off won’t derail EVERYTHING.
So, enjoy the summer vacation. Float in a pool. Get off the phone. No, we don’t have to multi-task every waking second. We CAN actually just BE. We are human BEINGS not human DOINGS.
Be smart and be safe!
Dojo Diva
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