Congratulations Michael Phelps on your EIGHT Gold medals!!!

You rock!

I am very pleased to announce, that I still have both my arms in their sockets and that they are in full working order. This something I was not sure I would be able to say during yesterday’s Kung Fu class. We were doing some really rough moves that involved my arms being yanked in all directions and then culminated with me being thrown on the floor. Thank you goodness I got over my fear of falling last week.

I had been living in a very soft, gentle world, where the hardest thing I worked out on was a yoga mat. That was of course until Kung fu. Now the softest thing I work out on is a hard wooden fall. Yesterday I learnt (besides how durable my arm sockets are) that in one minute I can either do 29 press-ups, OR 41 sit ups, on the wooden floor.

Kitty News… unfortunately she has been under the weather again (she has lost her ability to jump) so I made an appointment for her at the vets.  With the possible diagnoses looking very gloomy…  a tumour, arthritis, and some other weird hip disorder that would mean being referred to an orthopaedic vet (yes really) I did what any loving Cat Mum does and order every available test. Poor Kitty had blood work, an upsetting exam and an x-ray that involved a general anaesthetic.
The verdict, while very reassuring, was one that a causal lay person, such as you or I could have made…she is over weight and has to lose 3lbs.
Poor Kitty, and poor me, how on earth am I going to get her to lose a quarter of her body weight, when she would rather watch toy mice fly over head than chase them, and has been on diet food for the last 2 years with no effect. Hmmm, I am going to start the research process.

Ever since I learnt to walk, approximately 34 years ago, I have done everything in my power to stay upright, on my feet and not fall. Even when the odds were against me and I had skis or roller blades attached to my feet. What I did today in Kung Fu then, went against everything I had previously learnt.

We were being taught how to fall on the ground, first flat on our backs and then on our front. After a few moments of trying and not doing very well, I decided to trust the instructor. He seemed to know what he was talking about. He was able to both ,throw himself on the ground AND remain in one piece; in fact he seemed to enjoy it. Low and behold within a few minutes of trusting, I too was throwing myself on the ground, and while I can’t say I actually enjoyed it, I did really enjoy being able to do something that I thought was impossible.

Perhaps no one was more surprised than me when I took up a Martial Art a few weeks ago.

It really wasn’t something that I had consciously set out to do. However a couple of things had occurred prior to me setting foot in the school, which must have planted the seed somewhere in my subconscious. I had always known if anyone tried to attack me my only defence would be to scream, (I have never been in a fight in my life, not even as a child with my brother and sister). Also I had done some research on the benefits of Martial Arts for people with ADHD and it did seem really interesting.

So when my local Martial Art school had their door open, a sign mentioning self-defence, and invitation for people to go in for a visit, I thought why not?

I asked the owner and master black belt, a few key questions. Does it matter that I have never been in a fight? Will I break any bones? And can I keep my nails? (Pointing to my freshly manicured nails) when I got satisfactory answers, “No” to all of them, I decided to sign up.

I never dreamt in a million years how much fun it would be, how empowering it would be… or how sore I would be. After my first class, I had take painkillers for following 3 days and it was a full 6 days before my body was ready for another class. However I do believe I have discovered a new passion, and there is nothing more exciting than that.