A couple of things to check off my bucket list...

As many of you know, my kids and I have been involved with Tae-Kwon-Do for the last several years.  My kids started about 5 years ago and I started 2.5 years ago.  When I first started it was HARD - no seriously, I mean H-A-R-D.  I had never done anything athletic in my entire life prior to turning 37 years of age not to mention a life long battle with my weight.  I joined because my then-7 year old, who battles his own medical conditions and does it anyways, asked me to join for his 7th birthday.  I can honestly say I would do anything thing for love.  I swear to you, my entire body was sore for the first 6 months.  My kids thought it was hilarious because they could make me say "ouch" by touching any part of me.

Well, 2.5 years later I can check two things off my bucket list.  After much hard work, I earned my Bo-Dan last week.  This is the belt that is one below a black belt and allows me to officially begin my own black belt journey.  It will take at least a year of hard work (forms, fitness, sparring, weapons and teaching) to earn my black belt and I'm scared but excited.

The other bucket list item was entering into a sparring tournament today and winning second place in the women's division.  Sparring isn't my favorite part of Tae-Kwon-Do but my mentor told me the more I do it, the more comfortable I'll be with it so I just needed to suck it up and DO it.  My foot is pretty bruised up but I'm very proud of myself for overcoming my fear and getting in the ring.

Here's to our bucket lists!  They keep us growing and getting stronger.  They keep us facing new challenges and going beyond where we thought we could go.  The funny thing is the more you check off, the more things you add because you realize YOU CAN do more than you thought you could.