I’m Not Dead Yet (I.N.D.Y.)

What to write? What to write?  First, today was a really good day!  Once I dropped the boys off for a boy scout event (5 mile hike + map and compass stuff), my 4-year old daughter and I went garage sale-ing.  Now, there was nothing in particular I was looking for, but I really just love the idea of going out and seeing if I can find a “deal.”  I didn’t find anything great for me; though, my daughter scored some new toys and ANOTHER princess towel (Little Mermaid, this time).  When I got home, I decided that I felt good enough to  go to karate to help teach.  It was very nice to  (again) just be Mr. H. and work with the kids and actually take an Modern Arnis class myself.  After, I rested at home and then Mom, my family, and I went out to dinner and then to watch the new Indiana Jones movie (don’t worry, my daughter stayed at home with a sitter).  It was just a really good day.  I have to enjoy these as they come; who knows what “tomorrow” will bring?

I got Dr. Randy Pausch’s The Last Lecture and have been reading it (I read quite a bit of it on Friday as I waited to get de-tubed).  I found many of his stories resonated with me and I wanted to share one here.  Dr. Pausch tells of the impact his football coach, Jim Graham, had on his life.  One of the things Coach Graham emphasized to his players was the importance of fundamentals.  While teaching at American Karate, I find myself channeling my own “Coach Graham”: Jon O’Kelly.  Mr. O’Kelly always emphasized the importance of focusing on the basics of Tae Kwon Do (my original martial art).   As with Coach Graham, Mr. O’Kelly always said that learning the basics properly is necessary in order to be able to properly learn and execute the more fancy techniques (e.g., you need to be able to do a great turning sidekick before you can do a great jump, spin sidekick).

I continue Mr. O’Kelly’s legacy by similarly emphasizing this lesson when teaching, both in and out of the martial arts school.  This lesson is true about sports, education, business, life…Learning the basics is more than just learning stuff that will allow you to do more interesting / difficult /fun stuff.  Learning basics teaches us many things, but chief among them are patience and self-control.  When I first started using Photoshop, I tried to do a bunch of fancy stuff which just didn’t work.  I just sort of started the program and poked around.  Eventually, I went back and took the time to take some classes and completed some tutorials and have since developed my skills.  When I finally got over my initial desire to do everything at once, I was able to learn what I needed to develop my skill.

Sometimes what is most important is slowing down, exercising our patience and self-control, and develop ourselves!

Merle

Tags: Idolatry, Main, The Martial Arts by Merle
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