You've Never Been Alone

[sensei8]

Every success in your MA journey wasn't achieved all by yourself. Don't be so shocked.

Your rank, no matter the level, is yours. However, you had some help. Your tournament accomplishments, no matter how many, you had some help. Your school of the MA, no matter how many students, you had some help.

Yes, it was you, but only to a small degree. You had a lot of help in your corner.

Just when? Just how many? You know...don't you?!

How about...

1) Your Pastor

2) Family members

3) Your friends

4) Your employer

5) Your fellow dojo/dojang/etc classmates

6) oh yeah...Your Instructor(s)

7) Your Style Headquarters

No matter how small or large, your sacrifices were their's as well. They laughed with you, they cried with you, they celebrated with you, they went to the mat with you in their own ways, they supported you across the board, they encouraged you during all of your trials and tribulations, they held the bag and/or some other apparatus for you countless amount of times...each and every time they didn't ask for anything as a reward because your success in your MA journey was enough for them.

When's the last time you thanked them?

[Evil Dave]

My Sensei, her birthday was a couple of days ago and her dojo anniversary is in two weeks. Ok, I was lazy and made both events in one phone call.

[darksoul]

1) I'm an atheist, so no.

2) Totally!

3) You bet

4) No, most of my employers never knew I was a martial artist

5) Absolutely!

6) Obviously

7) Kind of...

Definitely will agree that everything we do is influenced by others in some way.

[evergrey]

1) Your Pastor- Well, my GYTHJA, and yes, I told her I appreciated her support eh, a couple days ago.

2) Family members- Hah, my parents do not like that I practice full contact knockdown, but they are glad I'm getting the exercise. I talk about it all to them anyway. My fiancee is one of my instructors, I thank him daily, haha.

3) Your friends- my friends are a big support, cheering me on and wanting to hear the news. I thank them a lot too.

4) Your employer- Sorry, I'm considered too "crazy" to work a normal job. I black out and have flashbacks. PTSD. Martial arts is really helping with that, though.

5) Your fellow dojo/dojang/etc classmates- oh yeah, big help, we're here for each other, and I thank them too. The other day, a classmate of mine actually gave me a little gift of cash so I could go on a date with my beloved. We're both really broke right now, and it meant the world to me. Heh, even something like that, really helped me, because my heart was high and my training went well that day!

6) oh yeah...Your Instructor(s)- All the time! All three of them.

7) Your Style Headquarters - We're all kinds of fractured since Sosai Mas Oyama's death, and my group of dojos wants nothing to do with the nasty politics and money grabbing that followed. The head of my org is my Shihan, and he hasn't been by in a while, so after seeing this post, and before answering, I gave him a call, just to let him know I cared. Thanks Bob, for reminding me to do that!

OSU!

[bushido_man96]

I think it tends to get easy to forget to thank someone, when you do something every day or every few days that just tends to be the normal grind for us. I know I just tend to take it for granted. Great post, Bob.

[FangPwnsAll7]

1) Your Pastor: I am an atheist.

2) Family members: I don't really thank them, but I work really hard and they said I'm doing great.

3) Your friends: Um... no. Maybe, if I had any.

4) Your employer: I'm 14. I don't work.

5) Your fellow dojo/dojang/etc classmates: Believe it or not, I actually believe my classmates are the people that make me work hard. I have to thank one person in particular though.

6) oh yeah...Your Instructor(s): Yes.

7) Your Style Headquarters: Yes, of course.

[madtanker]

All human behavior is influenced by others, either through fear or elation. If we did not see a need to defend ourselves, we would be taking up lacrosse...lol. If we did not see the beauty in the art, we would not continue it, and if we did not see the construct in the art, we would not desire to master it. It is for ourselves (if we are doing it for the right reasons), but we also do it for those around us, either to impress, or to prove to them that we can.

[sensei8]

Great post thus far...I thank you all...please keep them coming.

Btw, I hadn't meant my little list in my OP to be meant as a Poll/List, but I do like the initiation by all that treated it as such...I LOVE IT!!

[JohnnyB]

I agree that everyone around me has played a role in my MA journey.

Starting from the inspiration I get from my Sensei, the enthousiasm from my classmates, the flexible work schedule from my employer and my wellness advisor for the excellent nutrition he introduced to me.

I do thank them for all that.

My parents never really inspired me towards Karate. They signed me up when I was 9-10 y.o but then stopped me for some worthless reason. Looking back on this I wish I never stopped! However I did find the urge to come back many years later when 28y.o. I dunno who to thank for that enlightnent!

Edited August 19, 2012 by JohnnyB