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In my TaeKwon-Do classes we always talk about Indomitable Spirit. We define this concept as “facing your fear and going ahead anyway.” This is also how many people define courage. That quality within us that has us getting up when we get knocked down. This is the stuff heroes are made of…that spirit that has those heroes fighting insurmountable odds, facing unconquerable opponents and attacking life head on in the face of sure defeat.
Today a hero was born. She doesn’t know it yet but a hero entered the world today. Today I witnessed Indomitable Spirit manifest in the world. Today I saw self-esteem grow and be displayed like a peacock fanning his feathers.
This morning at approximately 9:40AM west coast time Linda Pike started her 2nd Tough Mudder. For those of you who don’t know the Tough Mudder…here it is in a nutshell…run 10 or 12 miles up a mountain, face 20 or so obstacles like crawling in mud while getting electrical shocks, humping over (and under) huge logs placed 10 or so feet above the ground, climbing up a 14 foot wall and jumping off into a pit of muddy water, carrying a large log up and down a hill, and jumping in to a trough of ice (lots of ice) water and swimming under a barrier to the other side, and a whole bunch of other torturous tests.
Tough Mudder is not a race. Tough Mudder is a challenge. A challenge to you to help your teammates get through the course. A challenge to you to face your fear and go ahead anyway. A testing ground for courage and indomitable spirit. A challenge to you to emerge with a new attitude and a fresh smile born of accomplishment.
Linda Pike became a hero today. A mere 10 months ago she ran a very similar course and walked past/avoided over ½ of the obstacles. Today she defeated each obstacle. Today she faced her fear of heights. Today she faced her fear of water and not being able to see. Today she faced self doubt and negative self-talk. Today she faced down decades of demons telling her what she couldn’t do. Today Linda Pike became a hero.
Linda Pike looked into the maw of fear and defeat and snatched her self-esteem, her self-worth out of tthe grasp of those demons and like the warriors of yore shook victory from those steely cold unfeeling hands. Today Linda Pike stepped up and got counted among the heroes. She worked hard over the last year, of that I have seen. She showed up, picked up weight, learned new skills, sweated and yes cried once or twice on the road to this morning’s victory. But all those hours in the gym were a minor contribution to the display of courage and indomitable spirit I saw over 4½ hours today. What happened today was the blossoming of a new persona…one who believes in the aristocracy of effort and vision. This hero will view any obstacle as surmountable. This hero will step up and girding her loins, strapping on her weapons will step on to that battle field of human endeavor and fight tooth and nail to achieve victory.
Linda Pike I salute you and your performance today. You are my hero.
Namaste
John
“Teaching Focus, Inspiring Transformation”
www.martialartsnevada.com
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